Session Item

SGRT has been installed in our new purpose-built proton beam department (PBD). Training programmes are often introduced without assessing radiographers’ baseline knowledge, skills and training needs. Therefore, before training and implementation, a survey in SGRT was undertaken.

A 4 part survey was designed for radiotherapy radiographers, including Diagnostic Radiographers and RTTs working in PBD.  Sections assessed demographics, knowledge, skills and training needs. Data was collated and reviewed in excel. Two radiographers independently reviewed all results and open text results were converted to keywords. 

Twenty-one PBD radiographers completed the survey (Diagnostic Radiographers=2, RTTs=19). 19% (4) had used the system clinically as a qualified Radiographer. 38% (8) of radiographers had prior training and/or attended a course in SGRT.

The system was described as surface anatomy (15), set-up (14), monitor (12), camera (11), motion management (8), verification (4) and no tattoos (3). The Radiographers responded that SGRT could be used in the following treatment sites: all (10), breast (10), head and neck (8), abdomen (5), thorax (5), pelvis (4), limbs (3), lung (2), paediatrics (1), SRS (1).

In terms of the SGRT training delivery method, the Radiographers preferred lectures (11), test-cases (9), one-to-one (6), workbook (3), all of the aforementioned (1). For the initial SGRT assessment method radiographers preferred ongoing review (7), online assessment (6), a test (4), self-assessment (4) and reflections (1). For ongoing assessment radiographers preferred practice (11), informal refresher sessions (8), reflection (3), test (3), continuous professional development session (2), documentation (1), workbook (1) and reviewing the literature (1).

The Radiographers also thought the system could be initially rolled out and utilised for set-up (8), correlated with IGRT (8), reduce imaging (7), monitor motion (6), identification (4), remove tattoos (2), gating (2), gated CT (1), for training cases only (1) and breast and thorax patients only (1).

This single centre study although small is original and provides an insight into both Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiographers knowledge and skills in SGRT. To date reported training programmes for Radiographers have lacked a pre-training baseline assessment, and thus it can be difficult to assess the real impact and success of these programmes once complete. Our centre faces the additional challenge of being a new purpose built PBD with minimal test cases available for training. Therefore, the results from the survey will be invaluable to inform our training programme and the rollout of SGRT. The training will be tailored utilising approaches requested by the Radiographers and will build upon their SGRT knowledge and skills reported in the survey. The failure/success of the SGRT training and implementation will be surveyed again once all 21 staff complete the programme.