S2910
RTT- RTT operational practice and workflow innovations
ESTRO 2026
Annie O' Shea 1 , Annemarie Devine 1 , Andrew England 1 , Mark McEntee 1 , Aisling Barry 1,2 , Theresa O' Donovan 1 1 Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. 2 CancerResearch@UCC, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland Purpose/Objective: Radiation therapy is a cornerstone of cancer treatment, with over half of oncology patients requiring it during their care pathway (1). In Ireland, a growing shortage of radiation therapists (RTTs) is placing considerable strain on service delivery, staff well-being, and patient-centred care. This study aimed to evaluate current workforce conditions in Irish radiation therapy departments and explore the perceived impact of staffing shortages. Material/Methods: A prospective, ethically approved, cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted. A questionnaire was developed in line with Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES) and the European Society of Radiation therapy and Oncology (ESTRO) survey-based radiation oncology research guidelines (2,3). The survey was distributed via Qualtrics and piloted prior to dissemination. Recruitment was carried out through convenience sampling using professional social media platforms (LinkedIn) and direct email invitations to radiation therapy departments. Eligible participants were RTTs currently employed in Ireland. Data collection occurred over five weeks between January and February 2025. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis. Results: A total of 42 RTTs participated in the study. Of these, 59.5% (n=25) reported low staffing levels, and nearly half indicated that at least one treatment unit had been closed due to shortages. Regular overtime was reported by 57.1% (n=24) of respondents, and 45.2% (n=19) described their workload as heavy or very heavy. Key consequences included treatment delays, reduced patient interaction, limited professional development opportunities, decreased job satisfaction, and increased burnout. Staff shortages were more pronounced in public sector departments. Suggested solutions included enhanced recruitment efforts, increased funding, flexible working arrangements, and the development of advanced practice roles. Conclusion: This study highlights the significant impact of staffing shortages on radiation therapy service provision and
workforce sustainability in Ireland. The findings may be relevant to other countries facing similar challenges. Addressing these issues requires strategic workforce planning, policy reform, and sustained investment to ensure timely, high-quality cancer care. The implementation of targeted retention strategies, promoting flexible work models, and expanding advanced practice roles are essential to support a resilient and effective radiation therapy workforce moving forward. References: Borras, JM, Lievens Y, Barlton M, Corral J, Ferlay J, Bray F, et al. How Many New Cancer Patient in Europe will Require Radiotherapy by 2025? An ESTRO-HERO analysis. Radiother Oncol. 2016;119(1):5– 11Eysenbach G. Improving the Quality of Web Surveys: The Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E- Surveys (CHERRIES). J Med Internet Res. 2004;6(3): e34. Webster A, Fog LS, Hall E, Van Rossum PSN, Nevens D, Montay-Gruel P, et al. ESTRO guidelines for developing questionnaires in survey-based radiation oncology research. Clin TranslRadiat Oncol. 2024; 51:100895. Keywords: workforce, staff shortage, service provision Standardized optimization to improve workflow efficiency and dosimetric robustness in magnetic resonance guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART) Raphael Mathieu, Bernard Lachance, Frédéric Lacroix, Janelle Morrier, Elizabeth Guimond, Isabelle Thibault, Laurence Bernier, Thomas Reynaud, William Foster, François Fabi, Éric Poulin Radio-Oncology, CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, Canada Purpose/Objective: The Elekta Unity MR-Linac integrates high-resolution MRI with linear accelerator technology to enable daily adaptive radiotherapy. This study evaluates a structured step-by-step optimization strategy implemented at our institution to improve plan consistency, enhance dosimetric robustness, and streamline workflow in MR-guided adaptive treatments. Material/Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 14 patients, covering the 50 most recent SBRT fractions ( ≥ 5 Gy/fraction) across various anatomical sites (prostate, liver, pancreas, adrenal gland, kidney). Plans were adapted by six radiation therapists to assess inter- planner consistency using the structured step-by-step Proffered Paper 1674
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