ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S5759

RTT - Education, training, advanced practice and role developments

ESTRO 2024

Prior to engaging in prescribing training, participants in their advanced area of practice possessed an average of 7.5 years of experience, with a range spanning from 0 to 30 years. All participants have undergone a formal prescribing course. Of the participants, 71.6% (n=53) pursued a combined supplementary and independent prescribing (IP) course, while 24.3% (n=18) completed an independent prescriber conversion course, and only 4.1% (n=3) obtained training in supplementary prescribing (SP) alone. The preponderance of participants (82.4%, n= 61) had completed a course at the master's level to qualify as a prescriber. 87.5% (n= 63) of respondents reported prescribing medications as part of their current role. The mean number of drugs prescribed per week through IP was 10, while SP accounted for the administration of three drugs. Laxatives (15.7%), anti-emetics (11.7%), and opioids (10.4%) were the most frequently prescribed medication categories reported. Respondents cited the primary benefits of TR prescribing as improved medicine access and service efficiency, enhanced medicine management quality, and optimized workforce resources. Medical colleagues were deemed the most significant supporters of enabling prescribing training and practice. The most frequently reported challenges were related to legislative restrictions, including restrictions to prescribing control drugs (CDs) and the transition from training to implementing prescribing in clinical practice.

Conclusion:

This study presents the first report on TR prescribing in the UK, offering insights into current practices. Despite the obstacles, the study highlights the success of NMP, which has now become a widely accepted practice for TRs nationwide. TRs can expand their advanced practice role by taking on medicine-prescribing responsibilities, contributing to holistic and patient-centered care and offering fresh solutions to the global oncology workforce shortage. The results of this survey are of great significance not just for the UK but also for other countries considering similar medicine-prescribing roles for TRs. Further research is ongoing to explore how TRs integrate NMP into radiotherapy departments, how team members perceive it, and the impact on patient experiences.

Keywords: medicine management, non-medical prescribing