ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S5764

RTT - Education, training, advanced practice and role developments

ESTRO 2024

to formulate the questions posed to the participants. The World Café approach was used to collect data from the RT students whilst focus group discussions with RT lecturers and clinical tutors were used.

Results:

Data collection and analysis took place simultaneously. Data was transcribed and analyzed using the descriptive analysis technique of open coding described by Tesch (Creswell, 2013). Themes that emerged during data collection were: (i) positive feelings experienced in the work environment, (ii) mental health support needed to strengthen the positive experiences, (iii) mental health measures essential to achieve the students’ dreams, and (iv) strategies for the implementation of the mental health measures.

Conclusion:

The findings of this study revealed that the dreams of RT students are to be in a supportive environment where they are heard and listened to, where the clinical tutors and RT lecturers are encouraging, respectful, and have confidence in them. A model which will serve as a framework of reference for the facilitation of the mental health of RT students during their academic education and training has been developed and will form part of the oral presentation.

Keywords: RTT students, mental health, training

References:

1.Chamunyonga, C., Singh, A., Gunn, T. and Edwards, C., 2020. Strategies to develop student support mechanisms in medical radiation sciences clinical education. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 51(4), pp.512 517.

2. Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry & research design: choosing among five approaches. 3rd

Edition. Los

Angeles: Sage Publications.

3. Dungey, G.M., 2009. What effect does treating cancer patients have on radiation therapy students' identity development? Radiographer, 56(1), pp.10-15.

1129

Proffered Paper

Advanced Practice in Palliative Radiotherapy: Bridging the Care Gap for access to VMAT/IMRT

Susannah Jansen van Rensburg

GenesisCare, Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom