Maran Irene, Assenza Marta, Peghetti Angela, Tabarrini Federico, Angelini Gaia, Spoltore Gabriele, Gilli Elisa, Casarotti Filippo, Chierico Laura, Morganti Alessio Giuseppe, Durante Stefano
Professional development and implementation of research in health professions unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy.
Professional development and implementation of research in health professions unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy.
J Med Imaging Radiat Sci. 2025 Apr 30;56(5):101916. doi: 10.1016/j.jmir.2025.101916.
The role of Therapeutic Radiographers (RTTs) is evolving alongside advancements in radiotherapy (RT) technology and techniques, and the principal research areas of the therapeutic radiographers (RTTs) are directly correlated with the development opportunities within the same context. This scoping review aims to explore current research trends relevant to RTTs, with a focus on professional development and the expanding scope of their roles in clinical practice. This will require a shift from an intuitive approach to one based on bibliographic evidence and trends that warrant greater emphasis.
A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL, covering studies published between 2018 and 2023, and it was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews. The inclusion criteria focused on research related to RTTs, excluding general radiographer studies, clinical-only studies, and conference papers. The screening process was completed by eight reviewers.
A total of 39 studies were selected for inclusion. Key research trends included the Evaluation of patient engagement in radiotherapy (13 articles), the potential role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in RT (6 articles), the expanding roles of Advanced Practice Radiation Therapists (APRTs) across different countries (7 articles), and the increasing involvement of RTTs in Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) and Adaptive Radiation Therapy (ART) in implementation, quality assurance, and training (9 articles). The literature also highlighted the importance of RTT-patient engagement, particularly in palliative care, and the need for advanced training in areas such as treatment contouring, digital competencies, and personalized care approaches.
RTTs are progressively assuming more autonomous roles in RT, particularly in treatment planning and contouring. The integration of AI and new technologies requires ongoing education and certification for RTTs to ensure they remain equipped to handle the evolving demands of RT. Increased involvement in research and interdisciplinary collaboration will enhance their contributions to patient care and clinical practice. However, further efforts are needed to standardize the APRT role and ensure consistent professional development opportunities.
治疗放射技师（RTTs）的角色随着放射治疗（RT）技术和技巧的进步而不断演变，治疗放射技师的主要研究领域与同一背景下的发展机遇直接相关。本范围综述旨在探讨与治疗放射技师相关的当前研究趋势，重点关注专业发展以及他们在临床实践中不断扩大的角色范围。这将需要从直观方法转向基于文献证据和更应强调的趋势的方法。
使用PubMed、Scopus、Web of Science和CINAHL进行文献检索，涵盖2018年至2023年发表的研究，并按照系统评价和Meta分析的首选报告项目（PRISMA）扩展版进行范围综述。纳入标准侧重于与治疗放射技师相关的研究，排除普通放射技师研究、仅临床研究和会议论文。筛选过程由八位评审员完成。
共筛选出39项研究纳入。关键研究趋势包括放疗中患者参与度的评估（13篇文章）、人工智能（AI）在放疗中的潜在作用（6篇文章）、不同国家高级实践放射治疗师（APRTs）角色的扩展（7篇文章），以及治疗放射技师在图像引导放射治疗（IGRT）和自适应放射治疗（ART）的实施、质量保证和培训方面参与度的增加（9篇文章）。文献还强调了治疗放射技师与患者互动的重要性，特别是在姑息治疗中，以及在治疗轮廓勾画、数字能力和个性化护理方法等领域进行高级培训的必要性。
治疗放射技师在放疗中逐渐承担更多自主角色，尤其是在治疗计划和轮廓勾画方面。人工智能和新技术的整合要求治疗放射技师持续接受教育和认证，以确保他们有能力应对放疗不断变化的需求。更多地参与研究和跨学科合作将增强他们对患者护理和临床实践的贡献。然而，需要进一步努力规范高级实践放射治疗师的角色，并确保一致的专业发展机会。
