Virtual radiotherapy plan quality education: Perspectives from a global setting

Abstract

Purpose: Evaluation of treatment plan quality is a critical element of training for radiotherapy professionals. With the increased adoption of intensity modulated radiotherapy internationally, this training is crucial to address patient care inequity. We aim to evaluate learning outcomes from a 14-session remote training course targeting critical elements of plan quality with advanced modalities.

Methods: The virtual training course was delivered to over 500 radiotherapy professionals in North Africa. Attendees completed online pre- and post-course knowledge assessments, and surveys of their confidence in core competencies. Paired t-tests, general linear regression, and ANOVA were used to evaluate learning outcomes.

Results: On the pre-course knowledge assessment, attendees scored a mean of 3.97 ± 1.54 out of 10. After the course, remaining attendees' scores increased to a mean of 4.88 ± 1.86 (p < 0.001). Mean confidence scores increased from 2.28 ± 1.22 to 3.70 ± 0.76 out of 5. Confidence scores varied significantly with enrollees' years of experience, clinical role, and involvement in treatment planning (p < 0.05). However, pre-course knowledge scores only varied based on clinicians' current involvement in advanced treatment planning (p < 0.01). The improvement in knowledge score from baseline increased significantly with course attendance (p = 0.02).

Conclusions: This course produced positive overall learning outcomes, particularly with advanced treatment planning modalities. Attendees gained practical experience applying rigorous plan quality criteria. The study results support the crucial importance of continuing education and hands-on experience in the rapidly advancing technological environment of radiation oncology.

Keywords: Global radiation oncology; IMRT; Plan quality; SBRT.