ESTRO 2025 - Abstract Book

S20

Invited Speaker

ESTRO 2025

Increased Preparedness

Simulation-based learning prepares radiation therapy students for real-world scenarios by exposing them to realistic clinical situations. This exposure helps reduce anxiety and enhances learning by allowing students to experience and manage complex cases in a safe environment. As a result, they are better equipped to handle similar situations when they encounter them in clinical practice, leading to improved patient care and outcomes. Resource Efficiency Utilising simulation in radiation therapy education can lead to significant cost savings through increased access to high-demand equipment. Traditional training methods often require access to clinical settings which add pressure to already busy departments. Simulation-based learning, on the other hand, allows multiple students to practice simultaneously, reducing the need for physical resources and making training more efficient and accessible. In turn, this helps to lessen the impost on clinical departments. Patient Safety A critical advantage of simulation-based learning is the emphasis on patient safety. In a simulated environment, learners make mistakes and can critically evaluate and reflect without posing any risk to actual patients. This not only enhances the learning experience but also instils a culture of safety and continuous improvement among future radiation therapists. Innovative Learning Advanced technologies and simulated laboratories offer immersive and interactive learning experiences that make radiation therapy education more engaging and effective. Access to clinical-grade equipment, software and spaces, are just a few examples of the innovative tools used in simulation-based learning. These technologies provide realistic scenarios that challenge students and encourage active participation, leading to deeper understanding and retention of knowledge. Improved Engagement with Industry Simulation-based learning also fosters better engagement with industry partners, including fellow clinicians and cancer care companies as well as patients. Through simulated activities, students can collaborate with industry experts, gaining insights and feedback that enhance their learning experience. This collaboration helps bridge the gap between academic training and real-world practice, ensuring that students are well-prepared to meet the demands of their future careers. Additionally, simulation-based learning also opens up valuable research opportunities for students and clinicians. By providing a controlled environment, simulations allow for the systematic study of various clinical scenarios and treatment techniques. This can lead to the development of new protocols and best practices. Students and clinicians can collaborate on research projects, gaining insights from simulated data that can be applied to real-world settings. This fosters a culture of continuous learning and innovation, ultimately advancing the field of radiation therapy. It is clear that simulation-based learning offers a multitude of benefits that enhance the training of radiation therapy students. By providing a risk-free environment for skill development, increasing preparedness, improving resource efficiency, ensuring patient safety, offering innovative learning experiences, and fostering industry and research engagement, simulation-based learning is transforming radiation therapy education and preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals for success.