Radiation Oncology Department, Institut Jules Bordet - Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Inholland University of Applied Sciences, School of Health, Haarlem, the Netherlands.
Radiation Oncology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Belgium; Center of Molecular Imaging, Radiotherapy and Oncology (MIRO), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Radiography (Lond). 2022 Aug;28(3):620-627. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2022.04.006. Epub 2022 May 11.
Radiotherapy (RT) professionals are not officially recognised or have formal education in many countries, with RT being often a very short component of a broader programme. This study aims to investigate Belgian stakeholders' perpectives regarding existing barriers and solutions for the education and professional development of Radiation therapists (RTT) which regroups medical imaging technologists (MIT) and nurses working in RT.
Nine experts with vast experience in RT were invited to be interviewed; eight participated (4 heads of the RT departments, 2 school representatives, 2 national society's representatives). A semi-structured questionnaire was used. The first two authors open-coded all interviews using thematic analysis.
Five themes and eleven sub-themes were drawn from the analysis. Belgian MIT and nurses in RT perform the same roles, but have different educational backgrounds. The barriers in education and professional development are related to law, education landscape, economics, social-cultural context, politics and professional identity. The main difference between the French and Dutch-speaking parts of the country were at the education level. The proposed solutions included modifying the legislative framework surrounding the RTT profession, setting up financial support, formalizing the educational requirements and increasing professional awareness. Future strategies might include the development of advanced roles and responsibilities.
Current law, educational landscape and lack of economic support were the main barriers identified. Except for the educational background, no fundamental differences were found between nurses and MIT in the French and Dutch-speaking parts. Perspectives for both professional groups are linked to future legislative and financial actions, the stakeholders involved and a clear strategic vision. In the upcoming years, increased responsibilities and the creation of a master's degree should be foreseen.
Regulation of RTT profession and education and an increase in RT-specific training must be implemented in Belgium to ensure professional development and optimized treatment delivery.
在许多国家，放射治疗（RT）专业人员并未得到官方认可或接受过正规教育，而 RT 往往只是更广泛计划中的一个非常短暂的组成部分。本研究旨在调查比利时利益相关者对现有障碍的看法，以及针对从事 RT 的医学影像技师（MIT）和护士的教育和专业发展的解决方案，这些人属于辐射治疗师（RTT）。
邀请了 9 名在 RT 方面拥有丰富经验的专家进行访谈；其中 8 人参与（4 名 RT 部门负责人、2 名学校代表、2 名国家协会代表）。使用半结构化问卷。前两位作者使用主题分析对所有访谈进行了开放式编码。
从分析中得出了五个主题和十一个子主题。比利时的 MIT 和从事 RT 的护士执行相同的角色，但教育背景不同。教育和专业发展的障碍与法律、教育格局、经济、社会文化背景、政治和专业身份有关。该国法语和荷兰语区之间的主要区别在于教育水平。提出的解决方案包括修改 RTT 职业的法律框架、提供财政支持、使教育要求规范化和提高专业意识。未来的战略可能包括发展高级角色和职责。
当前的法律、教育格局和缺乏经济支持是确定的主要障碍。除了教育背景外，法语和荷兰语区的护士和 MIT 之间没有发现根本区别。这两个专业群体的观点都与未来的立法和财务行动、利益相关者以及明确的战略愿景有关。在未来几年，预计将增加责任和创建硕士学位。
比利时必须规范 RTT 专业人员和教育，并增加特定于 RT 的培训，以确保专业发展和优化治疗效果。
