Professional development through mentoring: Final evaluation of the pilot mentoring programme of the European society of radiotherapy and oncology.

The European SocieTy for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) organized a one-year pilot mentoring programme. At evaluation after one year, both mentors and mentees scored the programme with a median score of 9 on a scale of 10. All of the mentors indicated that they wanted to participate again as mentors.

Quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in head and neck cancer: A systematic comparison of different modelling approaches.

Background and purpose: Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) describes tissue microvasculature and has prognostic and predictive potential in radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC). However, lack in standardization of DCE-MRI hinders comparison of studies and clinical implementation. This study investigated the accuracy and robustness of the population arterial input function (AIF), correlations between pharmacokinetic parameters and their association to T stage and human papillomavirus (HPV) status for HNC. Materials and methods: DCE-MRI was acquired for 44 HNC patients. Population AIFs were calculated with six different approaches. DCE-MRI was analysed in primary and lymph node tumours using Tofts model (TM) with population AIFs and individual AIFs, extended TM (ETM) with individual AIFs, Brix model (BM), and areas under the curve (AUCs). Intraclass correlation, concordance correlation, Pearson correlation and Whitney Mann U test helped examining the robustness and accuracy of population AIF, correlations between DCE-MRI parameters and their association to T stage and HPV status, respectively. Results: The population AIF was robust but differed from individual AIFs. There was significant correlation between KtransTM/ETM and ve, TM/ETM, and KtransTM/ETM and Kep, TM/ETM. ABrix and AUCs correlated for lymph nodes. Kep, Brix correlated with ABrix, KtransTM/ETM and Kep, TM/ETM for primary tumours. Kep, TM significantly decreased with increasing T stage. Both the correlations and the parameters' association to T stage were stronger for HPV negative lesions. Conclusions: Individual AIF was preferred for accurate pharmacokinetic modelling of DCE-MRI. DCE-MRI parameters and their correlations were affected by the lesion type, HPV status and T staging.

The role of alexithymia and empathy on radiation therapists' professional quality of life.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Physical and mental well-being are crucial for oncology professionals as they affect performance at work. Personality traits, as alexithymia and empathy, may influence professional quality of life. Alexithymia involves diminished skills in emotion processing and awareness. Empathy is pertinent to the ability to understand another's 'state of mind/emotion'. The PROject on Burn-Out in RadiatioN Oncology (PRO BONO) investigates professional quality of life amongst radiation oncology professionals, exploring the role of alexithymia and empathy. The present study reports on data pertinent to radiation therapists (RTTs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: An online survey targeted ESTRO members. Participants were asked to fill out 3 questionnaires for alexithymia, empathy and professional quality of life: (a) Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20); (b) Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI); (c) Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQoL). The present analysis focuses on RTTS to evaluate compassion satisfaction (CS), secondary traumatic stress (STS) and Burnout and their correlation with alexithymia and empathy, using generalized linear modeling. Covariates found significant at univariate linear regression analysis were included in the multivariate linear regression model. RESULTS: A total of 399 RTTs completed all questionnaires. The final model for the burnout scale of ProQoL found, as significal predictors, the TAS-20 total score (ß = 0.46, p < 0 0.001), and the individual's perception of being valued by supervisor (ß = -0.29, p < 0.001). With respect to CS, the final model included TAS-20 total score (ß = -0.33, p < 0.001), the Empatic Concern domain (ß = 0.23, p < 0.001) of the IRI questionnaire and the individual's perception of being valued by colleagues (ß = 0.22, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Alexithymia increased the likelyhood to experience burnout and negatively affected the professional quality of life amongst RTTs working in oncology. Empathy resulted in higher professional fulfillment together with collegaues' appreciation. These results may be used to benchmark preventing strategies and implement organization-direct and/or individual-directed interventions.

Professional quality of life and burnout amongst radiation oncologists: The impact of alexithymia and empathy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Different factors may influence the professional quality of life of oncology professionals. Among them, personality traits, as alexithymia and empathy, are underinvestigated. Alexithymia is about deficits in emotion processing and awareness. Empathy is the ability to understand another's 'state of mind'/emotion. The PROject on BurnOut in RadiatioN Oncology (PRO BONO) assesses professional quality of life, including burnout, in the field of radiation oncology and investigates alexithymia and empathy as contributing factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An online survey was conducted amongst ESTRO members. Participants completed 3 validated questionnaires for alexithymia, empathy and professional quality of life: (a) Toronto Alexithymia Scale; (b) Interpersonal Reactivity Index; (c) Professional Quality of Life Scale. The present analysis, focusing on radiation/clinical oncologists, evaluates Compassion Satisfaction (CS), Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) and Burnout and correlates them with alexithymia and empathy (empathic concern, perspective taking and personal distress) with generalized linear modeling. Significant covariates on univariate linear regression analysis were included in the multivariate linear regression model. RESULTS: A total of 825 radiation oncologists completed all questionnaires. A higher level of alexithymia was associated to decreased CS (ß: -0.101; SE: 0.018; p < 0.001), increased STS (ß: 0.228; SE: 0.018; p < 0.001) and burnout (ß: 0.177; SE: 0.016; p < 0.001). A higher empathic concern was significantly associated to increased CS (ß: 0.1.287; SE: 0.305; p = 0.001), STS (ß: 0.114; SE: 0.296; p < 0.001), with no effect on burnout. Personal distress was associated to decreased CS (ß: -1.423; SE: 0.275; p < 0.001), increased STS (ß: 1.871; SE: 0.283; p < 0.001) and burnout (ß: 1.504; SE: 0.245; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Alexithymic personality trait increased burnout risk, with less professional satisfaction. Empathic concern was associated to increased stress, without leading to burnout, resulting in higher professional fulfillment. These results may be used to benchmark preventing strategies, such as work-hour restrictions, peer support, debriefing sessions, and leadership initiatives for professionals at risk.

Professional quality of life and burnout among medical physicists working in radiation oncology: The role of alexithymia and empathy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The professional quality of life of radiation oncology professionals can be influenced by different contributing factors, including personality traits. Alexithymia involves deficits in emotion processing and awareness. Empathy is the ability to understand another's 'state of mind/emotion'. We investigated professional quality of life, including burnout, in radiation oncology, exploring the role of alexithymia and empathy and targeting the population of medical physicists (MPs), since this professional category is usually underrepresented in surveys exploring professional well-being in radiation oncology and MPs may experience professional distress given the increasing complexity of multimodal cancer care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An online survey was addressed to ESTRO members. Participants filled out three questionnaires to evaluate alexithymia, empathy and professional quality of life: a) Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20); b) Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI); c) Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQoL). Professional quality of life as per ProQoL was considered as dependent variable. The three domains of the ProQoL, namely compassion satisfaction (CS), secondary traumatic stress (STS) and burnout were correlated with alexithymia (as per TAS-20) and empathy (as per IRI with three subcategories: empathic concern, perspective taking and personal distress) and demographic/professional characteristics as independent variables. Generalized linear modeling was used. Significant covariates on univariate linear regression analysis were included in the multivariate linear regression model. RESULTS: A total of 308 medical physicists completed all questionnaires. Alexithymia as per TAS-20 was correlated to decreased CS (ß = -0.25, p < 0 0.001), increased likelihood for STS (ß = 0.26, p < 0 0.001) and burnout (ß = 0.47, p < 0 0.001). With respect to empathy, the 'Empatic Concern' subscale of the IRI was found to be a significant predictor for increased CS (ß = 0.19, p = 0 0.001) and increased STS (ß = 0.19, p < 0 0.001), without significant correlation with burnout. The individual's perception of being valued by own's supervisor was correlated to increased CS (ß = 0.23, p < 0.001), and decreased burnout (ß = -0.29, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Alexithymic personality trait increased the likelihood to develop burnout, with less professional satisfaction amongst MPs working in radiation oncology. Empathy results in higher professional fulfilment. These results may be used to benchmark preventing strategies, including peer support, debriefing sessions, leadership initiatives and work-load limitation strategies.