Skin radiotherapy training programme for dermatology specialty trainees - an unmet need
Ahad, T Sanneh, Alison
Ahad, T
Sanneh, Alison
Citations
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Abstract
Purpose or Objective
Radiotherapy is an important modality for the treatment
of skin malignancies. Although an integral part of the
dermatology curriculum, exposure and knowledge in skin
radiotherapy is limited amongst dermatology specialty
trainees. The dermatology UK national curriculum
specifies competency in the principles, indications, risks
and benefits of radiotherapy and ability to construct a
treatment plan for primary skin malignancy. Trainees are
currently independently responsible for arranging means
of fulfilling this requirement, which may be through
independent study, observerships or courses as agreed
with their educational supervisor. Quality of training in
this field can therefore be varied and often becomes a boxticking
exercise. This can in turn affect quality of referrals
made to radiotherapy clinics and limit treatment choices
offered to patients.
Material and Methods
To address this gap in training, an innovative programme
to deliver radiotherapy training in skin malignancies was
designed for the UK North-Western Dermatology Deanery.
The training programme consisted of a radiotherapy
training day at the Christie Hospital, Manchester and
participation in at least two skin radiotherapy clinics. The
radiotherapy training day consisted of interactive lectures
covering curriculum objectives, followed by small group
practical sessions exploring radiotherapy equipment,
procedures and patients’ experience. This was delivered
by a multi-disciplinary team involving radiotherapy
doctors, radiographers and medical physicists. The clinics
included new and follow-up patients with skin cancer, skin
marking planning sessions and on-treatment reviews.
Results
Feedback was obtained through anonymised survey
responses (observership in clinics) and feedback forms
(study day). Responders rated their knowledge in
radiotherapy as ‘below average’ prior to the programme
and as feeling ‘confident’ after the programme. Learning
objectives fulfilled by the teaching programme according
to the responders included indications and
contraindications for skin radiotherapy, optimal patients
to refer for radiotherapy, methods of delivering
radiotherapy, patient compliance, management of skin toxicities, radiotherapy planning and shielding, geriatric
assessment, dealing with patients who lack capacity and
patients’ involvement in the decision making process.
Conclusion
Overall, feedback received indicated that this programme
succeeded in sufficiently increasing knowledge and
confidence amongst dermatology specialty trainees in skin
radiotherapy. Subsequent incorporation of this programme
into dermatology training and addition of regular
radiotherapy clinics into the dermatology registrar rota
have now streamlined training dermatology trainees
receive in this field, ensuring that curriculum objectives are properly met and patient care and referral practice is
improved.
Authors
Description
Date
2020
Publisher
Collections
Keywords
Type
Meetings and Proceedings
Citation
Rembielak A, Ahad T, Sanneh A. PO-1225: Skin radiotherapy training programme for dermatology specialty trainees - an unmet need. Radiotherapy and Oncology . 2020 Nov;152:S645.