ESTRO meets Asia 2024 - Abstract Book

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RTT – Education, training, advanced practice and role developments

ESTRO meets Asia 2024

attendees was facilitated to promote engagement. Webinar registration records were utilised to report the number, country of employment, and profession of both session registrants and actual session participants.

Results:

In total, 1840 registrants and 772 participants were recorded across 16 sessions. A marked increase in session attendance was observed following changes made to the session format between the first and second series (Figure 1). Mean session attendance for the first and second series was 21 and 83 participants, respectively. Peak attendance for any individual session was 189 individuals, which was observed for the session themed on stereotactic practice. RTTs comprised 71% of overall attendees, with clinicians the next most common profession (11%). In total, attendees were recorded from 20 different countries (Figure 2). The most common participating countries were India (23.3%), Indonesia (18.9%) and Philippines (17.3%). Changing trends in the countries of attendees were noted over the course of the two series, anecdotally attributed to promotion of the sessions through regional networks of RTTs communicating via messaging platforms (e.g. WhatsApp). Low participation despite targeted engagement from a number of countries was suggested to be related to limited English competency. This was considered to be a more frequent barrier amongst RTTs compared to clinicians and medical physicists from the region. The endorsement and active support of RTT engagement in the education sessions by clinicians from the same institution was perceived to be a significant factor in promoting attendance.

Figure 2. Countries of recorded participants

Conclusion:

After two-years and 16 sessions, a strong foundation has been developed which underpins the ASPRONET online education program for RTTs of LMICs across Asia-Pacific. An openness to engage and adapt our session structure to the preferences of RTTs in the region has demonstrated continued growth in attendance as well as geographic diversity. Future priorities within a planned third series include the promotion of interprofessional education and empowering RTTs from LMICs to take a more direct role in the development and coordination of sessions.