Advanced practice in radiotherapy across Europe : stakeholders' perceptions of implementation and evolution

Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved..

INTRODUCTION: Adapting radiotherapy services with workforce innovation using skills-mix or task-shifting optimises resources, supporting current and future demands. Advanced practitioners (APs) work at a different level of practice (beyond initial registration) across four pillars: clinical practice, leadership and management, education, and research. There is limited cross-country research on the advanced therapeutic radiographers/radiation therapists (TR/RTTs), particularly in Europe. This study aimed to investigate European radiotherapy stakeholders' perceptions regarding current and future advanced practice (AP).

METHODS: From June to September 2022, one-to-one online semi-structured interviews were conducted in English, and audio and video were recorded. Full verbatim audio files were independently transcribed and checked by interviewer and interviewees. Braun and Clarke's seven steps guided the thematic analysis (using NVivo).

RESULTS: Thirty-three interviewees working or studying in 16 European countries represented practitioners (n=14), managers (n=6), educators (n=4), professional bodies (n=4), students (n=3), and regulators (n=2). Four overarching themes emerged: "AP drivers and outcomes", "AP challenges vs enablers", "Current vs future AP", "Becoming and being advanced practitioner". Participants identified research as the neglected AP pillar due to a lack of protected time, limited staff skills, no research culture, no funding, workload, and clinical priorities. Interviewees highlighted the importance of consistency in job titles, harmonisation of education models and curricula, definition of AP requirements, and support for all AP pillars through job plans and workforce planning.

CONCLUSION: Neither the profession nor education of TR/RTTs are harmonised across Europe, which is highly reflected in advanced-level practice. Advanced TR/RTTs should work across all pillars, including research, and these should be embedded in master's programmes, including leadership.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study highlights a policy gap in the education and practice of APs in radiotherapy.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:30

Enthalten in:

Radiography (London, England : 1995) - 30(2024), 3 vom: 11. Apr., Seite 896-907

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Oliveira, C [VerfasserIn]
Barbosa, B [VerfasserIn]
Couto, J G [VerfasserIn]
Bravo, I [VerfasserIn]
Hughes, C [VerfasserIn]
McFadden, S [VerfasserIn]
Khine, R [VerfasserIn]
McNair, H A [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Advanced practice
Advanced practitioners
Education and training
Europe
Journal Article
Radiation therapist
Therapeutic radiographer

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 12.04.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status Publisher

doi:

10.1016/j.radi.2024.03.013

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM370978811