ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S5793

RTT - Education, training, advanced practice and role developments

ESTRO 2024

1706

Digital Poster

Survey of Scottish RTT attitudes to research: A Scottish Radiographer Research Forum

Alice Paterson 1 , Lynsey Devlin 1,2 , Joanne Mitchell 3 , Kirsty Farnan 4 , Jaqueline Ogg 5 , Suzanne Coupland 6 , Aileen Duffton 1,2

1 Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Radiotherapy, Glasgow, United Kingdom. 2 University of Glasgow, Institute of Cancer Sciences, Glasgow, United Kingdom. 3 Edinburgh Cancer Centre, Radiotherapy, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 4 Ninewells Radiotherapy Department, Radiotherapy, Dundee, United Kingdom. 5 Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Radiotherapy, Aberdeen, United Kingdom. 6 Raigmore Hosptial, Radiotherapy, Inverness, United Kingdom

Purpose/Objective:

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is associated with improved treatment outcomes and survival in cancer patients. Engagement from therapeutic radiographers (RTT) in research has been identified as a challenge. To improve research engagement throughout Scotland the Scottish Radiographers Research Forum was created in 2021, which consists of an annual research showcase and implementation of strategies to increase research activity. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of Scottish RTT attitudes to research, to inform recommendations and implement initiatives to facilitate professional development to embed RTT-led research throughout Scotland. The primary objectives of this survey were to understand RTT attitudes and perceptions; and to identify perceived barriers associated with research and development.

Material/Methods:

This was a prospective study that used a mixed method cross-sectional survey. The survey was developed and piloted with collaborators from each centre. The Scottish Radiographers Research Forum approved this work with permission to conduct the survey from heads of department obtained between January and February 2023. The survey was piloted by six conveniently sampled RTT and the validity measured with the content validity index (CVI) and item-CVI by eight experienced RTT. Questions that scored a low I-CVI were removed. Open feedback from scorers allowed questions to be amended, e.g. if a word was felt to be ambiguous or could be taken out of context. An online survey tool (Webropol) was used to collect responses electronically. The anonymous survey, including participant information sheet, was emailed to all RTT working in Scottish RT centres. The survey was composed of 29 items, including selection-based sociodemographic questions, 5-point Likert metric scale statements and open text box questions to investigate RTT perception and experience within research. The questions were designed to reflect that strongly agree is considered a positive answer.

A thematic analysis (TA) of qualitative data was conducted, similar to the theoretical framework by Saunders et al. (1), adapted from the multi-phase TA approach described by Braun & Clarke (2).

Results: