Past, present and future of RTT training in mainland China: Evaluation of trainee perspectives

ABSTRACT

Objective: The radiation therapy technologist fundamentals training program (RFTP) facilitates knowledge and skills development of newly employed radiation therapy technologists (RTTs) within our China network. Since its initial implementation in 2019, the RFTP has evolved to address the diversity of RTTs' education and experience, as well as changing local clinical contexts. In particular, a shift to remote delivery and assessment has been required during the COVID-19 pandemic. This quality improvement initiative aimed to evaluate the impact of the RFTP on learning engagement and outcomes, from trainee perspectives. Method(s) Online pre-interview surveys and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 RTTs from five China sites in July and August 2022.1 Participants provided verbal informed consent regarding the survey and interview recordings for subsequent analysis. Surveys were reported with descriptive statistics, and interview themes were developed using direct content analysis.2 Results: 15/16 participants qualified in a non-RTT field of study, with most practiced in medical imaging (N = 7);12/12 participants with previous RTT experience reported differences in practice standards. All participants rated the RFTP highly (see Figure), with IGRT (13/16), ARIA (14/16), and SimCT (7/16) most frequently identified as new areas of learning;14 participants who completed the RFTP reported the preparation for IGRT standard workflow was most valuable. Discussion/Conclusion: Results show that the RFTP is an essential on-boarding program that advances RTTs' knowledge and reduces the skills gap to perform our network's established workflows. Additional feedback gained through this initiative will be considered for future development of the RFTP.