ORCID Profile
0000-0001-6249-3486
Current Organisation
Monash University
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.RADI.2017.03.016
Abstract: Evidence demonstrates that health care professionals in the palliative care context are more burned out than other health professionals. The aims of this study were to examine: (1) occupational burnout levels among radiation therapists in Australia, (2) association between demographic factors on burnout and (3) radiation therapists' perceptions of burnout. A cross-sectional online survey including the Maslach Burnout Inventory was administered to Radiation Therapists in Australia. Data were analysed using SPSS Ver 20 and open ended comments were analysed thematically using Nvivo 10. A total of 200 radiation therapists participated in the survey. RTs had a high mean (±SD) burnout score for emotional exhaustion (38.5 ± 8.2), depersonalisation (17.5 ± 4.7) and personal achievement (30.5.3 ± 4.3) compared to RTs and health workers in other studies. High levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and low levels of personal achievement were present in 93% (186/200), 87% (174/200) and 61% (122/200) of participants respectively. RTs identified high workload and staff shortages, interpersonal conflict and technology as key sources of stress in the RT work environment. Australian RTs' level of burnout on all three stages of burnout exceed previously reported burnout levels for similar cohorts both locally and internationally. It is important that future interventions aimed at minimising or preventing stressors are identified and implemented in the radiation therapy work environment.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.MEDDOS.2021.09.004
Abstract: Inter-fraction organ variations cause deviations between planned and delivered doses in patients receiving radiotherapy for prostate cancer. This study compared planned (D
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 30-10-2020
DOI: 10.1186/S13014-020-01688-Z
Abstract: Radiation therapy to upper abdominal sites is technically challenging due to motion of tumors and surrounding organs resulting from normal respiration. Breath-hold, using an Active Breathing Coordinator is one strategy used to reduce motion in these tumor sites. Though widely used, no studies have prospectively compared the different breath-hold techniques (inspiration, deep-inspiration and expiration) using ABC in the same patient cohort. Patients planned for radiation therapy to upper abdominal tumors are invited to participate in this prospective study. Participants attempt three breath hold techniques: inspiration, deep-inspiration and expiration breath-hold, in random order. kV fluoroscopy images of the dome of diaphragm are taken of five consecutive breath-holds in each technique. Reproducibility and stability of tumour position are measured, and used to select the technique with which to proceed to planning and treatment. Reproducibility at planning and each treatment fraction is measured, along with breath hold time, treatment efficiency and patient experience. The screening method was validated after the first three participants. This screening process may be able to select the best breath-hold technique for an in idual, which may lead to improved reproducibility. The screening process is being piloted as a prospective clinical trial. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): 12618001691235. Registered 12th October 2018. www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=376109& isReview=true .
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-10-2021
DOI: 10.1002/JMRS.442
Abstract: An automated dose accumulation and contour propagation workflow using daily cone beam computed tomography (CBCTs) images for prostate cases that require pelvic lymph nodes irradiation (PLNs) was developed. This workflow was constructed using MIM® software with the intention to provide accurate dose transformations for plans with two different isocentres, whereby two sequential treatment phases were prescribed. The pre‐processing steps for data extractions from treatment plans, CBCTs, determination of couch shift information and management of missing CBCTs are described. To ensure that the imported translational couch shifts were in the correct orientation and readable in MIM, phantom commissioning was performed. For dose transformation, rigid registration with corrected setup shifts and scaled fractional dose was performed for pCT to daily CBCTs, which were then deformed onto CBCT 1 . Fractional dose summation resulted in the final accumulated dose for the patient allowing differences in dosimetry between the planned and accumulated dose to be analysed. Contour propagations of the prostate, bladder and rectum were performed within the same workflow. Transformed contours were then deformed onto daily CBCTs to generate trending reports for analysis, including Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) and Mean Distance to Agreement (MDA). Results obtained from phantom commissioning (DSC = 0.96, MDA = 0.89 mm) and geometrical analysis of the propagated contours for twenty patients prostate (DSC: 0.9 ± 0.0, MDA: 1.0 ± 0.3 mm), rectum (DSC: 0.8 ± 0.1, mm, MDA: 1.7 ± 0.6 mm) and bladder (DSC: 0.8 ± 0.1, MDA: 2.8 ± 1.0 mm) were within clinically accepted tolerances for both DSC ( .8) and MDA ( 0.3 mm). The developed workflow is being performed on a larger patient cohort for predictive model building, with the goal of correlating observed toxicity with the actual accumulated dose received by the patient.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 06-2009
DOI: 10.1017/S1460396908006596
Abstract: In recent years the role of the radiation therapist (RT) has increasingly evolved. In Australia, one of the major developments has been the transition from practice which was rarely based on scientific evidence, to the profession today which engages in and incorporates research into everyday practice. The aim of this article is to provide an insight into the current status of Australian radiation therapy research. In order to present a national overview, a survey relating to research activity was e-mailed to all (48) clinical centres in Australia. Thirty-six out of the 48 centres responded, representing 13 private and 23 public centres. The results demonstrated that a research culture is beginning to be established and that there are challenges associated with implementing research. The role of universities in facilitating the development of research skills was considered important with an increasing number of practitioners undertaking higher research degrees. Overall, research activity in the Australian radiation therapy community is becoming more prevalent. If the profession is to continue to strengthen its research profile the professional body and universities need to continue providing academic and funding support. Greater focus on multidisciplinary collaboration is needed with direct involvement of RTs in multi-centre studies.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2011
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-2019
DOI: 10.1002/JMRS.321
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-06-2015
Publisher: Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education
Date: 16-09-2009
DOI: 10.14742/AJET.1127
Abstract: span The objective for this study was to determine whether learning style preferences of health science students could predict their attitudes to e-learning. A survey comprising the /span em Index of Learning Styles /em span (ILS) and the /span em Online Learning Environment Survey /em span (OLES) was distributed to 2885 students enrolled in 10 different health science programs at an Australian university. A total of 822 useable surveys were returned generating a response rate of 29.3%. Using /span em SPSS /em span , a linear regression analysis was completed. On the ILS Active-Reflective dimension, 44% of health science students reported a preference as being active learners, 60% as sensing learners, and 64% as sequential learners. Students' attitudes toward e-learning using the OLES showed that their /span em referred /em span scores for all 9 subscales were higher than their /span em actual /em span scores. The linear regression analysis results indicated that ILS learning styles accounted for a small percentage of the OLES /span em actual /em span and /span em referred /em span subscales' variance. For the OLES /span em actual /em span subscales, the ILS Active-Reflective and Sensing-Intuitive learning style dimensions were the most frequent predictors of health science students' attitudes towards e-learning. For the OLES /span em referred /em span subscales, ILS Active-Reflective and Sequential-Global learning style dimensions accounted for the most frequent source of variance. It appears that the learning styles of health science students (as measured by the ILS) can be used only to a limited extent as a predictor of students' attitudes towards e-learning. Nevertheless, educators should still consider student learning styles in the context of using technology for instructional purposes. /span
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-09-2015
DOI: 10.1002/JMRS.127
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-10-2017
Abstract: Evidence demonstrates that health care professionals are more prone to burnout than other professionals due to the emotionally taxing interactions they have with their patients on a daily basis. The aims of this study were to measure occupational burnout levels among sonographers, radiographers and radiologists and to examine predictors of burnout according to demographic characteristics. A cross-sectional online survey was administered in 2010 to radiographers, sonographers and radiologists who were members of the following professional bodies: Australian Institute of Radiography, Australian Sonographers Association and The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to measure burnout levels for each profession. Data were analysed using SPSS Ver 20 (IBM, Chicago, IL, USA) statistical software. A total of 613 radiographers, 121 sonographers and 35 radiologists participated in the survey. Radiographers, sonographers and radiologists had a high mean (±SD) burnout score for emotional exhaustion (39.9 ± 8.5, 42.2 ± 8.5 and 44.9 ± 7.1 respectively) and depersonalization (18.9 ± 5.5, 20.3 ± 5.8 and 20.6 ± 5.6) compared to MBI norms. Radiographers also had low personal achievement (30.8 ± 5.5) compared to MBI norms. Radiographers and sonographers who were male, worked >10 hours overtime and spent <10% of their time training students per week had significantly higher depersonalization scores (p < 0.05). Burnout levels among radiographers, sonographers and radiologists are high and likely to vary according to some demographic and work-related factors. Further research is needed to examine ways to alleviate burnout in these professions so that loss of experienced staff due to burnout can be minimized and quality of patient care can be maintained.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-09-2020
Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine dosimetric factors, such as mean dose and oesophageal length, which may influence the incidence and severity of oesophagitis in breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy to the supraclavicular nodes. This was a single-arm prospective observational study. Toxicity grading was undertaken twice weekly to determine the onset of grade 2 oesophagitis in consecutive patients prescribed IMRT to the breast or chest wall and supraclavicular fossa (SCF) nodes. Recorded variables included mean and maximum doses to the oesophagus, oesophageal length and pharynx length within the treatment area. Multivariate logistic regression and Fishers' exact test were used with a 0.05 significance level to compare the onset of grade 2 oesophagitis with these variables. A total of 77 patients were included in the study. Twenty-four (31%) patients reported grade 2 oesophagitis. There was a higher incidence of grade 2 oesophagitis in patients receiving a mean oesophageal dose of ≥31 Gy compared to those receiving < 31 Gy (18/24 versus 6/24, respectively, P = 0.025). There was a significant difference in the onset of grade 2 toxicity in patients who had ≥ 1 cm of pharynx included in SCF fields compared with those with <1 cm (15/24 versus 9/24, respectively, P = 0.0116). The odds ratios for developing grade 2 oesophagitis were 3.2 (95% CI = 1.05-9.62, P = 0.04) for a mean dose of ≥31 Gy and 3.4 (95% CI = 1.19-9.5, P = 0.022) for ≥1 cm of pharynx in the SCF field. By limiting the mean dose to the irradiated oesophagus to <31 Gy during the planning process and ensuring that <1 cm of pharynx is included in the radiation field, oesophageal toxicity may be minimised.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2006
DOI: 10.1080/01421590600969538
Abstract: Selection of suitable students into graduate medical and specialist health professional courses can be difficult. Historically, selection of students was primarily based on prior academic performance. Recently, however, more emphasis has been placed on considering broader academic backgrounds and personal characteristics and attitudes of students, but no reliable measurement tool is available to predict student success and satisfaction with their choice of profession. The aim of this study was to survey practising radiation therapists in Australia to seek their opinions regarding suitable selection criteria for graduate entry radiation therapy (RT) students in order to optimize selection procedures for future applicants. Four hundred questionnaires were sent to nine RT centres in three states within Australia. All nine clinics participated in the survey and 189 questionnaires were returned. Results show that the majority of radiation therapists place a high level of importance upon a sound knowledge of physics and mathematics, as well as life experience, and agree that a visit to an RT clinic plus an interview comprise important components of the selection process. Humanities, psychology and a psychometric test were not viewed as essential entry requirements. Experienced radiation therapists placed less value on academic performance in the primary degree and were more likely to include an interview as a selection criterion than junior practitioners. Empathy for patients was identified as the most important personal attribute. It is thus recommended that not only cognitive but also personal skills be evaluated during the selection of prospective radiation therapists.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-09-2023
DOI: 10.1002/JMRS.723
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-07-2014
DOI: 10.1002/JMRS.63
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.JMIR.2015.03.004
Abstract: Impairment in health care professionals has been identified as one of the determinants of fitness to practise (FTP), and practitioners have a legal obligation to notify regulatory authorities if they experience it. However, there remains confusion as to how radiation therapists (RTs) discern what constitutes impaired practice and how they would respond to such dilemmas. The aim of this study was to identify the range of responses to hypothetical professional impairment dilemmas, which may inform an educational strategy for improving reporting occurrences. A convenience s le of Australian RTs was invited to participate in an anonymous online survey that presented a range of FTP dilemmas relating to impairment, competence, and values/ethics. Participants were asked to describe how they would deal with such situations. Qualitative responses were coded using NVivo software. This article reports on the themes that emerged from the impairment dilemmas. One hundred eighty-two RTs responded to the survey. The emerging key theme and subthemes included dealing with the situation, removal of the practitioner from the situation, stop working, avoiding responsibility, giving the benefit of the doubt, and carrying on with the workload. Practitioners' interpretations of the impairment dilemmas varied, which, in turn, influenced their suggestions of how they would deal with them. The continuum of responses supports a key tenant of the interpretive paradigm-multiple interpretations of social phenomena exist. Those seeking to improve practitioner understanding of their obligations under national law should consider a scenario-based approach to raising awareness of FTP issues such as impairment.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-03-2017
DOI: 10.1080/13561820.2017.1286637
Abstract: Self-efficacy is an in idual's perception of their ability to be successful in a given endeavour and it has been shown to have an important role in successful university education and clinical performance of healthcare workers. This article examines the self-efficacy beliefs of undergraduate healthcare students (n = 388) for the skills required for interprofessional education and interprofessional collaboration. The students were enrolled at an Australian university from the disciplines of public health, social work, and paramedic practice. The Self-Efficacy for Interprofessional Experiential Learning (SEIEL) scale, which is a valid and reliable scale, was used to determine the self-reported perceptions of self-efficacy in this cohort. The 16-item scale was developed for use with medicine and other healthcare professional undergraduate students. Student t-tests were used to compare scores between males and females, with one-way ANOVAs used to explore SEIEL scores across disciplines and year level. A significant difference was found between genders for the scores on SEIEL subscale 2 "Interprofessional evaluation and feedback" (p = 0.01) with the male mean being 2.65 units higher (Cohen's d = 0.29). There was also a significant gender difference for the overall SEIEL scale (p = 0.029) with the male mean being 4.1 units higher (Cohen's d = 0.238). No significant gender differences were demonstrated for the subscale "Interprofessional interaction." Neither subscale demonstrated significant differences between healthcare disciplines or course year. Further investigation is required to explore the reasons for the outcomes of this study. With the increasing importance of interprofessional education and practice within healthcare, it would also appear reasonable to consider further research into the development and support of student self-efficacy for the skills required for interprofessional education and interprofessional collaboration within healthcare curricula.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2014
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2014
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 11-11-2012
DOI: 10.1017/S1460396911000379
Abstract: Focus groups are a means of gathering qualitative data from a group of participants who discuss a given topic. This method has been used in health care research for the past 30 years, but has seen limited use in radiation therapy research. Focus group discussions are a useful tool for investigating a variety of educational, training and clinical issues from the perspective of practitioners, students and patients. This paper reviews the issues associated with using focus groups as a means of data collection. In particular, it addresses some of the decisions which have to be made about group composition and conduct of the discussions. The literature review is contextualised using a recent ex le of how the authors used focus groups to investigate fitness to practise in radiation therapy. Other challenges such as familiarity between participants and researchers, power relationships and anonymity are addressed. The paper concludes with a consideration of data analysis.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 29-05-2019
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Caroline Wright.