ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S5844

RTT - Education, training, advanced practice and role developments

ESTRO 2024

References:

IAEA. (2022, February, Vol. 63-1). Improving Cancer Partnerships: Fighting Cancer in Partnership with the IAEA. International Atomic Energy Agency. https://www.iaea.org/bulletin/improving-access-to-radiotherapy. Accessed Oct. 24, 2023.

Pyrko I, Dörfler V, Eden C. Thinking together: What makes Communities of Practice work? Hum Relat. 2017 Apr;70(4):389-409. doi: 10.1177/0018726716661040. Epub 2016 Aug 25. PMID: 28232754; PMCID: PMC5305036.

Ranmuthugala G, Plumb JJ, Cunningham, FC et al. How and why are communities of practice established in the healthcare sector? A systematic review of the literature. BMC Health Serv Res 11, 273 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-11-273.

SP Bate, G Robert. Knowledge management and communities of practice in the private sector: lessons for modernizing the National Health Service in England and Wales. Pub Admin, 80(4), (2002), Pages 643-663.

Wenger E, McDermott R, Snyder WM: Cultivating Communities of Practice. 2002, Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business School Press.

2846

Proffered Paper

The impact of a clinical trials radiographer on set-up and recruitment to radiotherapy trials.

Chloe Wilkinson 1 , Donna ME Caldwell 1 , Aileen Duffton 1 , Sean M O'Cathail 2 , Anthony Chalmers 2

1 The Beatson, Radiotherapy, Glasgow, United Kingdom. 2 University of Glasgow, School of Cancer Sciences, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Purpose/Objective:

Radiotherapy (RT) is a vital cancer treatment, received by approximately half of all patients during their treatment journey [1], and RT clinical trials can lead to important improvements in tumour control and reductions in side effects. RT delivery within a clinical trial requires robust quality assurance to ensure trial outcomes are due to the research intervention rather than delivery discrepancies, so trial set-up and implementation is often resource intensive. The Clinical Trial Radiographer (CTR) post has been implemented across the UK to underpin this work but variation in the nature of the role between centres poses challenges in assessing impact. While anecdotal evidence supports the value of the CTR role, auditable evidence is essential for long term funding and future planning [2]. The primary role of CTRs within the UK workforce is the set-up and initiation of new trials [3], which are carried out by 53% of staff. 42.5% of the UK CTR workforce also participate in recruitment of patients. Apart from this there is very little published evidence to indicate the impact and value of CTRs. The CTR role was established in our