ESTRO 2026 - Abstract Book PART I

S1344

Interdisciplinary - Education in radiation oncology

ESTRO 206

Participants included radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and residents from several institutions in Tunisia and Algeria. The questionnaire contained 72 items (39 multiple-choice and 33 short-answer questions) exploring key aspects of applied radiobiology, including tumour and organ-at-risk (OAR) radiobiology, repair mechanisms, and re-irradiation principles. Data were analysed descriptively to assess response consistency and identify conceptual gaps. Results: A total of 23 professionals participated (47.8% radiation oncologists, 30.5% medical physicists, and 21.7% residents; mean age 36.3 years, range 26–62). Most respondents (82.6%) were practising in Tunisia.73.9% correctly identified the α / β ratio as an indicator of fractionation sensitivity, while 47.8% associated it with proportional radiosensitivity in conventional fractionation. However, marked variability was observed in the α / β values assigned to common tumours and organs at risk (OARs).All participants (100%) supported adapting OAR dose constraints according to their α / β profile. The majority recommended converting doses into EQD2 according to tissue type, applying this approach to maximum, mean, and volumetric dose constraints. Knowledge of EQD2 conversion was excellent (100%), and most respondents (94%) reported adjusting OAR constraints accordingly.Regarding treatment interruptions, 69.5% considered a seven-day extension clinically significant for OARs. All agreed that a temporary break of two to five days may be justified for severe acute toxicity, but only half were familiar with quantitative dose compensation methods, and 18.8% reported applying accelerated schedules.In re-irradiation, 94% acknowledged the need to recalculate cumulative OAR doses in EQD2, with empirical recovery rules commonly cited: 50% spinal-cord recovery after >2 years and 100% for mucosa after 1 year. Neurological structures remained high-risk for 87% of participants, and 81% cited tumour radioresistance as the key caution factor in early recurrence (<6 months). Conclusion: The survey highlights heterogeneous understanding and limited clinical integration of radiobiological principles among radiotherapy professionals in North Africa. These insights underline the need to strengthen radiobiology education within continuing professional development programs for both clinicians and physicists, helping to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical implementation in radiotherapy. Keywords: radiobiology, EQD2, re-irradiation

conducted by local experts in Ukrainian which is important in conditions of insufficient English proficiency. Pre- and post-course exams and satisfaction scores were used to evaluate effectiveness of the program. Results: A total of 253 training participations were recorded, with some individuals attending multiple sessions. Average test scores improved significantly: from 52.3%, 57.8%, and 47.0% before training to 86.0%, 80.5%, and 78.1% after training, respectively. Satisfaction ratings for three phases remained consistently high at 9.3, 9.8, and 10.0 out of 10, respectively. Participants reported immediate clinical application of their newly acquired knowledge. Conclusion: The three-phase “theory-to-practice” approach enabled an effective training process for medical physicists, reinforcing knowledge at each stage. Within a short period, this method facilitated the safe transition of Ukrainian radiotherapy from conventional 2D to modern IMRT/VMAT treatment modalities. This approach cannot replace full-fledged academic training followed by a residency program, but in conditions of rapid changes and limited educational resources it can become a high-quality solution. Keywords: rebuilding, training program, limited resources Radiobiology Knowledge and Clinical Integration Among Radiotherapy Professionals: Insights from a North African Survey nejla Fourati 1 , Ons Bettaieb 2 , Raouia Ben amor 3 , Lotfi Kochbati 3 , sameh Tebra 2 , Jamel Daoud 1 , vincent grégoire 4 1 radiation oncology, Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, sfax, Tunisia. 2 radiation oncology, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia. 3 radiation oncology, Abderrahmen Mami University Hospital, Ariana, Tunisia. 4 radiation oncology, Léon Bérard Cancer Center, Lyon, France Purpose/Objective: This study aimed to assess the level of radiobiology knowledge and its clinical integration among radiation oncology professionals in Tunisia and Algeria, providing insights into current educational gaps and guiding future training strategies. Material/Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and June 2025 using an online questionnaire created with Google Forms and distributed through professional networks. Digital Poster 4645

Digital Poster Highlight 4966 Integrating risk management into radiation

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