AAPM BTSC Report 377.B: Physicist brachytherapy training in 2022 – A survey of therapeutic medical physics residents

IF 2 4区医学 Q3 RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING

Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics Pub Date : 2024-10-07 DOI:10.1002/acm2.14501

Samantha J. Simiele, Manik Aima, Christopher S. Melhus, Susan L. Richardson

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Abstract

Background

A survey of medical physics residency program directors was conducted in Spring 2021 to examine the current state of brachytherapy (BT) training during residency. In this related work, a subsequent survey of therapeutic medical physics residents in 2022 was conducted to assess the confidence and experience of the trainees. Concerns for access to high-quality and diverse training in BT have escalated in importance due to recent declines in BT utilization.

Methods

A survey consisting of 26 questions was designed by a working unit of the Brachytherapy Subcommittee of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and approved for distribution by the Executive Committee of the AAPM. The survey was distributed to current trainees and recent graduates of the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs accredited therapeutic medical physics residency programs by the AAPM. The participant response was anonymously recorded in an online platform and subsequently analyzed using spreadsheet software.

Results

The survey was distributed to 796 current medical physics residents or recent graduates over the course of 6 weeks in February and March of 2022. The survey received 736 views and a total of 182 responses were collected, with 165 respondents completing the survey in full. Among those responses, 110 had completed their residency training, with program start dates ranging from calendar years 2015 to 2021. Individual responses from the survey takers (including partial survey submissions) were evaluated and analyzed to compile results.

Conclusions

Medical physics residents reported the highest levels of confidence and caseload for gynecological BT procedures when compared with other surveyed treatment techniques. This indicates opportunities to improve training and increase access to clinical caseload are needed in order to improve competency and confidence. Time constraints (clinical and rotation-based) were indicated as impediments to BT proficiency. Medical physics residents reported enthusiasm for additional training opportunities in BT, and it is evident that additional structure and programs are required to ensure adequate access to BT training during residency.

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AAPM BTSC 报告 377.B：2022 年物理学家近距离放射治疗培训 - 对治疗医学物理住院医师的调查。

背景：2021 年春季对医学物理学住院医师培训项目主任进行了一项调查，以了解住院医师培训期间近距离放射治疗（BT）培训的现状。在这项相关工作中，随后于 2022 年对治疗医学物理住院医师进行了调查，以评估学员的信心和经验。由于近来BT使用率的下降，人们对获得高质量和多样化BT培训的关注变得越来越重要：美国医学物理学家协会（AAPM）近距离放射治疗小组委员会的一个工作小组设计了一份包含 26 个问题的调查问卷，并经美国医学物理学家协会执行委员会批准分发。调查对象为经美国医学物理学家协会认可的治疗医学物理住院医师培训项目的在读学员和医学物理教育项目认证委员会的应届毕业生。参与者的回答以匿名方式记录在一个在线平台上，随后使用电子表格软件进行分析：在 2022 年 2 月和 3 月的 6 周时间里，我们向 796 名现任医学物理住院医师或应届毕业生发放了调查问卷。调查共收到 736 次浏览，收集到 182 份回复，其中 165 份回复完整填写了调查问卷。在这些回复中，有 110 人已完成住院医师培训，他们的课程开始日期从 2015 年到 2021 年不等。我们对调查者的个别回复（包括提交的部分调查问卷）进行了评估和分析，以汇总结果：医学物理住院医师对妇科 BT 手术的信心和病例量与其他调查治疗技术相比都是最高的。这表明需要改善培训和增加临床案例的机会，以提高能力和信心。时间限制（临床和轮转）被认为是提高 BT 熟练程度的障碍。医学物理住院医师表示热衷于获得更多的 BT 培训机会，很明显，需要额外的结构和计划来确保在住院医师培训期间获得充分的 BT 培训机会。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics 医学-核医学

CiteScore

3.60

自引率

19.00%

发文量

331

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics is an international Open Access publication dedicated to clinical medical physics. JACMP welcomes original contributions dealing with all aspects of medical physics from scientists working in the clinical medical physics around the world. JACMP accepts only online submission. JACMP will publish: -Original Contributions: Peer-reviewed, investigations that represent new and significant contributions to the field. Recommended word count: up to 7500. -Review Articles: Reviews of major areas or sub-areas in the field of clinical medical physics. These articles may be of any length and are peer reviewed. -Technical Notes: These should be no longer than 3000 words, including key references. -Letters to the Editor: Comments on papers published in JACMP or on any other matters of interest to clinical medical physics. These should not be more than 1250 (including the literature) and their publication is only based on the decision of the editor, who occasionally asks experts on the merit of the contents. -Book Reviews: The editorial office solicits Book Reviews. -Announcements of Forthcoming Meetings: The Editor may provide notice of forthcoming meetings, course offerings, and other events relevant to clinical medical physics. -Parallel Opposed Editorial: We welcome topics relevant to clinical practice and medical physics profession. The contents can be controversial debate or opposed aspects of an issue. One author argues for the position and the other against. Each side of the debate contains an opening statement up to 800 words, followed by a rebuttal up to 500 words. Readers interested in participating in this series should contact the moderator with a proposed title and a short description of the topic