Lived experiences of radiation therapists using health literacy strategies with patients-A qualitative review using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Introduction: Adaptive communication is an essential requirement to deliver quality patient-centred care. Determining patients' informational needs and acting on the needs are skills radiation therapists (RTs) employ daily with patients. Learning health literacy (HL) strategies to assist with the informational delivery provides RTs with options to improve patients' understanding of vital radiotherapy treatment information or tasks.

Lived experiences of first-year radiation therapy students communicating with patients and radiation therapists - A qualitative review using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Introduction: Radiation therapists must possess adaptable communication skills to manage patient-centred care and provide required technical information. Adaptive communication is also an expectation of undergraduate students to gain registration in Australia. The University Of Newcastle's Clinical Reasoning Module (CRM) prepares first-year radiation therapy students for clinical interactions.

A radiation therapist's guide to health literacy: A narrative review.

Radiation therapist (RT) communication plays an essential part of patient-centred care in achieving better patient outcomes within radiation oncology. Patients present from a range of social circumstances, education levels and cultural backgrounds, all of which may significantly impact their level of health literacy (HL). Using literature sourced from databases such as EMCare Nursing & Allied Health Database, MEDLINE(R) and APA PsycInfo, this narrative review explores HL definitions, international comparison rates and indications of individual low HL.

Effect of communication skills training on radiation therapy student's confidence and interactions during their first clinical placement.

Introduction: The University of Newcastle, Radiation Therapy degree (RT) includes a clinical reasoning module that provides students with the opportunity to learn and practice communication skills before their first clinical placement. This study investigates students' perceptions of how well the module prepared them for placement and explores students' perceptions of their communication experiences during placement.

Methods: A single survey was administered to students four months following placement (six months after delivery of module), and included a request for perceptions pre-module, post-module and pre and post placement via an online survey comprising 46 closed, Likert scale and open-response questions.

Radiation therapist health literacy training: A qualitative study exploring perceived barriers and attitudes.

Introduction: Health literacy (HL) is a universal issue in healthcare. While difficult to assess an individual's HL status, the onus is on the health provider to empower patients to seek understanding of health information provided to them. Universal HL training techniques include implementing plain language and the teach-back method.

Radiation therapist health literacy training: Does learning alternate communication methods translate into improved confidence in patient interactions?

Introduction: Low health literacy can inhibit patients' understanding of radiation therapy (RT) procedures. An objective of this research was to develop training to educate Australian radiation therapists (RTTs) about tools that support low health literacy patients, namely plain language and the Teach Back method (TBM). Perceptions, clinical use of these tools and confidence levels (pre and post training) in occupational scenarios were evaluated.

Communication: Preparing undergraduate radiation therapy students for initial clinical patient interactions.

Introduction: Radiation therapy students need to demonstrate appropriate communication skills when entering the clinical environment. To assist students with preparation for their first clinical placement a clinical reasoning module comprising theory and practical sessions was developed. This paper describes the module and presents the results of student evaluations.

Definition and visualisation of regions of interest in post-prostatectomy image-guided intensity modulated radiotherapy.

Introduction: Standard post-prostatectomy radiotherapy (PPRT) image verification uses bony anatomy alignment. However, the prostate bed (PB) moves independently of bony anatomy. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) can be used to soft tissue match, so radiation therapists (RTs) must understand pelvic anatomy and PPRT clinical target volumes (CTV).

Determining optimal planning target volume and image guidance policy for post-prostatectomy intensity modulated radiotherapy.

Background: There is limited information available on the optimal Planning Target Volume (PTV) expansions and image guidance for post-prostatectomy intensity modulated radiotherapy (PP-IMRT). As the prostate bed does not move in a uniform manner, there is a rationale for anisotropic PTV margins with matching to soft tissue. The aim of this study is to find the combination of PTV expansion and image guidance policy for PP-IMRT that provides the best balance of target coverage whilst minimising dose to the organs at risk.

The importance of prostate bed tilt during postprostatectomy intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Variations in rectal and bladder filling can create a tilt of the prostate bed, which generates the potential for a geographic miss during postprostatectomy radiotherapy. The aim of this study is to assess the effect that bladder and rectum filling has on planning target volume angle, to determine a method to assess prostate bed tilt leading to potential geographic miss, and to discuss possible implementation issues. The cone-beam computed tomography images (n = 377) of 40 patients who received postprostatectomy radiotherapy with intensity-modulated radiotherapy were reviewed.

The impact of rectal and bladder variability on target coverage during post-prostatectomy intensity modulated radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: Accuracy when delivering post-prostatectomy intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is crucial. The aims of this study were to quantify prostate bed movement and determine what amount of bladder or rectum size variation creates the potential for geographic miss.

Methods And Materials: The Cone Beam CT (CBCT) images (n=377) of forty patients who received post-prostatectomy IMRT with daily on-line alignment to bony anatomy were reviewed.

A dosimetric comparison of 3D-CRT, IMRT, and static tomotherapy with an SIB for large and small breast volumes.

Radiation therapy to the breast is a complex task, with many different techniques that can be employed to ensure adequate dose target coverage while minimizing doses to the organs at risk. This study compares the dose planning outcomes of 3 radiation treatment modalities, 3 dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and static tomotherapy, for left-sided whole-breast radiation treatment with a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB). Overall, 20 patients with left-sided breast cancer were separated into 2 cohorts, small and large, based on breast volume.

Prostate bed motion may cause geographic miss in post-prostatectomy image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Introduction: There is little data to guide radiation oncologists on appropriate margin selection in the post-prostatectomy setting. The aim of this study was to quantify interfraction variation in motion of the prostate bed to determine these margins.

Methods: The superior and inferior surgical clips in the prostate bed were tracked on pretreatment cone beam CT images (n = 377) for 40 patients who had received post-prostatectomy radiotherapy.

Ability of radiation therapists to assess radiation-induced skin toxicity.

Introduction: Radiation therapy has seen enhancement of the radiation therapist (RT) role, with RTs and nurses performing duties that were traditionally in the radiation oncologist's (RO) domain. This study aimed to assess whether RTs can consistently grade radiation-induced skin toxicity and their concordance with the gradings given by ROs.

Method: Digital photographs of skin reactions were taken at weeks 1, 3 and 6 of radiotherapy on nine patients with breast cancer.

Inter- and intra-fraction motion during radiation therapy to the whole breast in the supine position: a systematic review.

Inter- and intra-fraction motion during radiation therapy for breast cancer has been a widely researched topic. Recently, however, with the emergence of new technologies and techniques such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), field in field, volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), tomotherapy and partial breast irradiation (PBI), the magnitude of this movement has become more important. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive summary of the literature relating to the magnitude of motion during radiation therapy for a breast cancer patient.

Implementation of an image-guided radiation therapy program: Lessons learnt and future challenges.

The aim of this paper is to detail the experience obtained in implementing an image-guided radiation therapy program at the Northern Sydney Cancer Centre. This required retrofitting a Varian Clinac 21EX with an on-board imager. The commissioning and quality assurance procedures, organisation of a multidisciplinary image guided radiation therapy group, and the development of clinical protocols for orthogonal kV and cone beam computed tomography implementation are described.

An Australian model for professional standards.

This article describes the qualitative research methodologies used to develop entry-level standards documents for the four medical radiations science professions in Australia. This Australian model features a mix of complementary research tools to validate the range and level of the professional standards. In addition to methodology, this article also describes the beneficial role played by these standards and the possibility of using the development method in other countries.