ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S5746

RTT - Education, training, advanced practice and role developments

ESTRO 2024

Results:

Institution-based nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted among the radiation therapists between March to June 2023. A total of 174 eligible radiation therapists were invited to participate. The basic demographics are as follows; 58 female and 17 male have participated in the survey (n=75). Majority of the participants, 74.6% are Chinese and the rest of the participants are Malays, Indians, Eurasians and other races. 44% were from the 21-29 age group and 80% of the respondents work in restructured hospitals whereas 20% in the private settings. Among the 75 radiation therapists who participated in the survey, 74.6% have a bachelor's degree, 21.3% with a Master's and 1.3% with a Doctorate. 88% of the radiation therapists work 5 days in a week and 33.3% does work in more than one section of the radiation therapy center, for instances, a radiation therapist can work in mould room, CT-simulation, brachytherapy and linear accelerator in a work week. 85.% of them have hobbies and 69.3% do some form of exercise in a week. Chi-square test analyses were used to identify the mental health strains and their associated factors experienced. From the analyzed data, there is not significant difference (p=0.796) in either gender of radiation therapists in feeling emotionally exhausted due to work. Both gender does not feel burned out because of work (p=0.942). In addition, employed in either restructured or private hospitals has aslo no significant (p=0.614) in feeling burned out due to work. Different age group has no significant difference in level burned out too (p= 0.716). 44% of radiation therapists from both restructured and private hospitals felt that being in direct contact with people at work is too stressful. Whereas, 21.3% of radiation therapists felt that they worked too hard at least a few times a year. However, there is a statistical significant difference (p=0.045) in the level of different marital status (single, married, separated) towards how they felt things were going their way.

Conclusion:

Our findings show that it is not statistically significant that radiation therapists experience major mental health strains associated with work or work / patients-related. In consideration of the lower response rate of the study, this finding may vary from the actual representation of all the radiation therapists working in Singapore. Nevertheless, mitigation strategies can be introduced by providing avenues to seek mental health training, avoiding prolonged work hours >10hrs, and promoting better mental health to enhance a safer working environment for radiation therapists.

Keywords: Mental health, radiation therapists, anxiety

References:

1. Rotenstein, L. S.; Torre, M.; Ramos, M. A.; Rosales, R. C.; Guille, C.; Sen, S.; Mata, D. A. Prevalence of Burnout among Physicians. JAMA 2018, 320 (11), 1131. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.12777.

2. Zanardo, M.; Cornacchione, P.; Marconi, E.; Dinapoli, L.; Fellin, F.; Gerasia, R.; Monti, C. B.; Sardanelli, F.; Tagliaferri, L.; Jereczek-Fossa, B. A.; Gambacorta, M. A. Occupational Burnout among Radiation Therapy Technologists in Italy before and during COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences 2022, 53 (1), 58–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2021.12.004.

3. Melnikow, J.; Padovani, A.; Miller, M. Frontline Physician Burnout during the COVID-19 Pandemic: National Survey Findings. BMC Health Services Research 2022, 22 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07728-6.