ESTRO 2025 - Abstract Book

S4251

RTT - Education, training, advanced practice and role developments

ESTRO 2025

• Establish an Irish AP implementation steering group comprising key stakeholders, chaired by radiotherapy service manager(s), to centralise AP role implementation efforts. • Develop an APRT-specific guidance document to supplement the existing draft government allied health framework, addressing radiotherapy-specific nuances under the steering group’s oversight. • Recognise the need for master’s-level education for the role, completed in-post through a candidacy-style model to ensure equal opportunities, with study time and funding incorporated into this trainee position. Conclusion: The challenges in implementing APRT in Ireland are multifactorial however there is a national appetite across key stakeholder groups for implementation in a united, cohesive manner.

Keywords: Recommendations, stakeholders, Ireland

References: 1 Duffton, A; Devlin, L; Tsang, Y; Mast, M; Leech, M and ESTRO RTTC. Advanced practice: An ESTRO RTTC position paper. T ech Innov Patient Suppot Radiat Oncol . 2019 Jul 22:10:16-19 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tipsro.2019.06.001

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Proffered Paper Enhancing RTT skills in Total Body Irradiation through virtual reality training Andrea Lastrucci 1,2 , Cinzia Bastida 1 , Gabriele Simontacchi 2 , Marta Casati 3 , Margherita Zani 3 , Nicola Iosca 1,2 , Yannick Wandael 1 , Stefania Pallotta 3,4 , Renzo Ricci 1 , Lorenzo Livi 4 1 Department of Allied Health Professions, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy. 2 Radiation Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy. 3 Medical Physics Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy. 4 Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “M. Serio”, University of Florence, Florence, Italy Purpose/Objective: Virtual Reality (VR) in Radiotherapy enables immersive simulations for safe patient education and skill enhancement for Radiation Therapists (RTTs). At the Careggi University Hospital in Florence, a training programme has been developed to improve skills in Total Body Irradiation (TBI) protocols. The course integrates theoretical lessons with VR-based training, which facilitates the development of skills in a risk-free offline environment and allows the simulation of critical scenarios without interfering with clinical practice. A pre-course needs assessment was conducted to tailor the program to the specific needs of the staff. Material/Methods: An anonymous online questionnaire was administered to all RTT staff (n=30), requiring approximately 5 minutes to complete. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: demographic information (3 multiple-choice questions), self-assessment of proficiency in the technique (8 questions on a 5-point Likert scale), and analysis of specific learning needs for each phase of the procedure (1 multiple-choice question). Results: The response rate was 100% and the demographic composition of respondents was as follows: 87% were female, 57% had more than 5 years' experience in radiotherapy, and more than half (n=13) had more than 20 years' experience as a radiographer. The phase that RTTs rated as least confident was patient alignment (57%), followed by verification (43%). Additionally, seven respondents (23%) reported challenges in both phases. Only one respondent reported being unsafe in all phases of TBI, including treatment, while five respondents (17%) reported being fully confident in the technique.