Exploring implementation of the ESTRO Core Curriculum at the national level.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Global curricula exist across medical specialties however, the factors which influence their implementation are not well understood. The purpose of this study is to report the perceived factors that impact the implementation of the ESTRO Core Curriculum. METHODS: An anonymous, 37-item, survey was designed and distributed to the Presidents of the National Societies who have endorsed the ESTRO Core Curriculum (n = 29). The survey addressed perceptions about implementation factors related to context, process and curriculum change. The data was summarized using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Twenty-six (90%) National Societies completed the survey. One respondent perceived that the values of the training system of their country would be incompatible with the proposed ESTRO Core Curriculum. The most common contextual barriers to implementation was a lack of support from the government (57%), a lack of internal organizational support (35%) and a 'poor fit' between the ESTRO Core Curriculum and the broader political and economic context (35%). Perceived implementation process barriers included insufficient numbers of faculty (44%), poor coordination between the government and training institutions (48%), and a lack of an influential person leading the implementation (44%). Two barriers related to curriculum change were a lack of funding and lack of assessment tools. CONCLUSIONS: The content and values espoused in the ESTRO Core Curriculum are endorsed across diverse geopolitical and sociocultural regions. Barriers to curricular implementation are identified at the organizational and systems level and include insufficient teaching faculty, lack of coordination and the need for influential leadership.

Recommended ESTRO Core Curriculum for Radiation Oncology/Radiotherapy 4th edition.

INTRODUCTION: In 2017 it was decided to revise the European Core Curriculum for Radiation Oncology/Radiotherapy to produce a 4th edition. The aims of the ESTRO curriculum are to develop comparable standards for training across Europe and to facilitate free movement of specialists across borders. It is also hoped that it will improve the level of training across Europe and will make the non-medical expert roles more explicit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A wide range of stakeholders including National Society representatives, trainees, recently appointed specialists, members of the European Union Medical Specialists Radiotherapy section, an RTT, a radiobiologist, a physicist and lay members from ESTRO staff developed and commented on iterations of the curriculum. RESULTS: The 4th edition is based on the CanMEDS 2015 framework and identifies 14 Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) and the competencies required to perform these. The manager role is replaced by competencies related to leadership. The levels of proficiency required for tumour sites is defined as levels of EPAs. CONCLUSIONS: It is hoped that the inclusive method of developing the 4th edition has resulted in a document that will have utility in the wide range of environments in which radiation oncology is practised in Europe.

A review of the Best Practice in Radiation Oncology project from 2008 to 2018.

The European Society of Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Best Practice in Radiation Oncology-a project to train RTT trainers has reached its ten year anniversary and will commence its fifth iteration in 2018. This project commenced as a novel way to address the issue of limited RTT education throughout Europe. In many countries the profession of RTT is not officially recognised and there is no formal education programme. RTT education is frequently a very short component of a broader programme such as diagnostic imaging, nursing or a technical discipline. To date, fifty-nine short courses have been delivered, two RTT-specific National societies have been developed, a South East European cooperation with biannual conferences has evolved and significant progress has been made on improving the radiotherapy-specific content of national educational programmes, which will continue with future iterations of this project.