Department of Radiation Therapy, University of Otago, Wellington, Wellington South, New Zealand.
J Med Radiat Sci. 2023 Apr;70 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):70-76. doi: 10.1002/jmrs.661. Epub 2023 Feb 15.
This research assessed the preparedness of new graduate radiation therapists (NGRTs) for the clinical practice of planning.
A senior planner from each department and NGRTs who completed their degree in 2020 were surveyed after approximately 6 months of practice. Both were asked about NGRTs preparedness for practice and for feedback on the Bachelor of Radiation Therapy (BRT) planning curriculum. NGRTs were asked about body sites planned, how many plans they completed and planning techniques they had used. Senior planners were asked about their expectations of NGRTs in planning.
New graduate radiation therapists frequently planned using three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) or virtual simulation (VSim). Commonly planned body sites were those with palliative intent, radical breast and sites more frequently planned using 3DCRT. The departmental sign-off process sometimes prevented them from generating VMAT plans. They suggested more VMAT teaching could be included in the BRT. Senior planners expected NGRTs to be able to plan using 3DCRT and VMAT/IMRT. They suggested more clinical workflow teaching in the BRT planning curriculum. The majority of NGRTs and senior planners felt the BRT prepared the NGRTs for clinical practice.
The undergraduate degree is preparing NGRTs for clinical practice in planning. 3DCRT and VSim planning techniques remain a core role of NGRTs and a large proportion of clinical workload. NGRTs utilised their VMAT/IMRT planning skills less often during their initial period of practice, despite being expected to possess these skills. This is a challenge for the undergraduate curriculum and New Zealand departments as the clinical use of VMAT/IMRT continues to increase.
本研究评估了新毕业的放射治疗师（NGRT）在规划临床实践方面的准备情况。
在完成学位后大约 6 个月，对每个部门的一名高级规划师和 2020 年毕业的 NGRT 进行了调查。两者都被问及 NGRT 为实践做准备的情况，并对放射治疗学士（BRT）规划课程提供了反馈。NGRT 被问及他们计划的身体部位、完成的计划数量以及他们使用的规划技术。高级规划师被问及他们对 NGRT 在规划中的期望。
新毕业的放射治疗师经常使用三维适形放射治疗（3DCRT）或虚拟模拟（VSim）进行规划。常见的规划部位是那些有姑息治疗意图的部位、根治性乳房和更多使用 3DCRT 规划的部位。部门的签字程序有时会阻止他们生成 VMAT 计划。他们建议在 BRT 中增加更多的 VMAT 教学。高级规划师希望 NGRT 能够使用 3DCRT 和 VMAT/IMRT 进行规划。他们建议在 BRT 规划课程中增加更多的临床工作流程教学。大多数 NGRT 和高级规划师认为 BRT 为他们的临床实践做好了准备。
本科学位使 NGRT 为规划的临床实践做好了准备。3DCRT 和 VSim 规划技术仍然是 NGRT 的核心角色，也是大部分临床工作量的核心。尽管 NGRT 被期望拥有这些技能，但在他们最初的实践期间，他们很少使用 VMAT/IMRT 规划技能。这对本科课程和新西兰各部门来说是一个挑战，因为 VMAT/IMRT 的临床应用继续增加。
