Clarkson M, Khine R, McDonald F
Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
Radiography (Lond). 2025 Jan;31(1):281-289. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2024.12.002. Epub 2024 Dec 14.
The Non-Surgical Oncology (NSO) workforce, like many healthcare specialities, faces critical personnel shortages. With a 21 % deficit in consultant oncologists anticipated by 2028, alongside vacancies in key roles such as therapeutic radiographers. To address these challenges, innovative workforce strategies are necessary, including the diversification of skills and the creation of advanced career pathways for healthcare professionals such as nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals. Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) and Advanced Practitioners (APs) have emerged as pivotal in bridging workforce gaps; however, their training lacks standardisation.
This study utilised a multiphase design to gain consultation and consensus on the suitability of a newly developed NSO training framework adapted from the Royal College of Radiologists and Royal College of Physicians' joint curricula. Applying a modified Delphi approach, seen to be beneficial in curriculum design, and considering the diversity of professions and roles across the speciality, was used to develop an online survey which was distributed across the NSO healthcare sector. The survey aimed to gain consensus on the framework's alignment with clinical and educational needs and identify barriers to its implementation.
On reviewing the NSO training framework, the majority of the panel members (n = 46/51; 90.2 %) felt the capabilities appropriately mapped to the 2017 MPF. When asked about the clarity of the overall introduction and the introduction to the CiPs an overall positive response rate was noted (n = 50/51; 98 %). There was a slightly lower level of consensus around the clarity of the generic and core oncology CiPs, and slightly less agreement in the speciality-specific capabilities. Following the first survey (round one), the responses were reviewed, and it was identified that overall, in eight out of ten of the questions agreement between panel members had exceeded the level of agreement established by the researchers. As a result, the decision was made to cease the surveys and analyse the results in full as a single round.
Addressing the projected workforce shortages in oncologists and other key non-surgical oncology roles, this study contributes a framework adapted from established curricula, ensuring an equitable and high-standard educational pathway for trainees. The multi-phase process revealed consensus for the framework's alignment with clinical and educational standards, particularly its focus on capabilities in practice (CiPs), though highlighted inconsistencies in supervision and assessment.
The NSO framework is essential for ensuring equitable training, improving workforce retention, and enhancing patient care outcomes.
与许多医疗专业一样，非手术肿瘤学（NSO）领域面临着严重的人员短缺问题。预计到2028年，肿瘤学顾问医生将短缺21%，同时治疗放射技师等关键岗位也存在空缺。为应对这些挑战，需要创新的劳动力战略，包括技能多样化以及为护士、药剂师和专职医疗人员等医疗专业人员创建高级职业发展路径。高级临床从业者（ACP）和高级从业者（AP）已成为弥合劳动力缺口的关键；然而，他们的培训缺乏标准化。
本研究采用多阶段设计，就一个新开发的、借鉴皇家放射科医师学院和皇家内科医师学院联合课程改编的NSO培训框架的适用性征求意见并达成共识。采用一种经改进的德尔菲法（这种方法在课程设计中被认为是有益的），并考虑到该专业中职业和角色的多样性，开发了一项在线调查，该调查在NSO医疗领域进行了分发。该调查旨在就该框架与临床和教育需求的一致性达成共识，并确定其实施的障碍。
在审查NSO培训框架时，大多数小组成员（n = 46/51；90.2%）认为这些能力与2017年的多专业框架（MPF）适当匹配。当被问及总体介绍和特定能力领域（CiP）介绍的清晰度时，得到了总体积极的回应率（n = 50/51；98%）。在通用和核心肿瘤学CiP的清晰度方面，共识水平略低，在特定专业能力方面的一致性也略少。在第一次调查（第一轮）之后对回复进行了审查，结果发现总体而言，在十分之八的问题上，小组成员之间的一致意见超过了研究人员确定的一致水平。因此，决定停止调查，并将结果作为一轮进行全面分析。
为应对预计的肿瘤学家和其他关键非手术肿瘤学岗位的劳动力短缺问题，本研究贡献了一个借鉴既定课程改编的框架，确保为学员提供公平且高标准的教育路径。多阶段过程表明，该框架与临床和教育标准的一致性得到了共识，特别是其对实践能力（CiP）的关注，不过也突出了监督和评估方面的不一致性。
NSO框架对于确保公平培训、提高劳动力留存率和改善患者护理结果至关重要。
