Holistic Person-Centered Care in Radiotherapy: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Several types of health care professionals are responsible for the care of patients with cancer throughout their engagement with the health care system. One such type is the radiotherapist. The radiotherapist not only administers treatment but is also directly involved with the patient during treatment. Despite this direct contact with the patient, the narrative tends to focus more on technical tasks than the actual patient. This task-focused interaction is often due to the highly sophisticated equipment and complex radiotherapy treatment processes involved. This often results in not meeting the psychosocial needs of the patient, and patients have acknowledged noncompliance and delayed treatment as a result. OBJECTIVE: The scoping review aims to explore, chart, and map the available literature on holistic person-centered care in radiotherapy and to identify and present key concepts, definitions, methodologies, knowledge gaps, and evidence related to holistic person-centered care in radiotherapy. METHODS: This protocol was developed using previously described methodological frameworks for scoping studies. The review will include both peer-reviewed and gray literature regarding holistic, person-centered care in radiotherapy. A comprehensive search strategy has been developed for MEDLINE (Ovid), which will be translated into the other included databases: Scopus, CINAHL (EBSCO), MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Elsevier), Cochrane Library, and the Directory of Open Access Journals. Gray literature searching will include Google (Google Books and Google Scholar), ProQuest, the WorldWideScience website, the OpenGrey website, and various university dissertation and thesis repositories. The title and abstract screening, full-text review, and relevant data extraction will be performed independently by all 3 reviewers using the Covidence (Veritas Health Innovation) software, which will also be used to guide the resolution of conflicts. Sources selected will be imported into ATLAS.ti (ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH) for analysis, which will consist of content analysis, narrative analysis, and descriptive synthesis. Results will be presented using narrative, diagrammatic, and tabular formats. RESULTS: The review is expected to identify research gaps that will inform current and future holistic, person-centered care in radiotherapy. The review commenced in November 2023, and the formal literature search was completed by the end of February 2024. Final results are expected to be published in a peer-reviewed journal by 2025. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this review are expected to provide a wide variety of strategies aimed at providing holistic, person-centered care in radiotherapy, as well as to identify some gaps in the literature. These findings will be used to inform future studies aimed at designing, developing, evaluating, and implementing strategies toward improved holistic, person-centered care in radiotherapy. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/51338.

Radiography students' perceptions of the attributes required for clinical educators.

INTRODUCTION: A clinical educator (CE) is responsible for the clinical training and supervising of students to acquire skills and knowledge during Work Integrated Learning (WIL). The CE can have a positive or negative influence on students depending on their clinical and interpersonal attributes. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory-descriptive and contextual study was to explore and describe students' perceptions regarding the attributes of their CEs upon the successful implementation of the degree programme at the HEI. METHODS: Eighteen radiography students studying at the HEI in South Africa, from 4 disciplines namely, diagnostic radiography, nuclear medicine technology, diagnostic ultrasound and radiation therapy participated in the study. The data collection tool was unstructured interviews. Data was collected through in depth in-person and online interviews and was analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: The study revealed four themes highlighting the students need for CEs who possess personality traits that foster and enhance their performance. These CEs should establish an environment conducive to productive learning for students, encourage learning within the context of workplace-based learning, seamlessly integrate theoretical knowledge into clinical practice and consistently exhibit professional attributes. CONCLUSION: The findings from the study emphasize how the attributes and personality of CEs can significantly influence students experiential learning (WIL). The presence of a strong moral connection between students and CEs was considered a crucial aspect for successful clinical learning.

The lived experiences of radiotherapists treating paediatric patients: Gauteng, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric cancers are rare and more complex than adult cancers. Consequently, treatment for paediatric cancers is complex, requiring absolute precision and accuracy in delivering the prescribed dose. For radiotherapists, the complexity of performing paediatric radiotherapy treatment is augmented by its rarity, time and pressure constraints, the patient's lack of cooperation, anxiety and emotional challenges. These multiple challenges may affect the quality of patient care if they are not recognised and reduced. Therefore, this study explored radiotherapists experience of treating paediatric patients. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of radiotherapists treating paediatric patients. METHODS: This qualitative phenomenological study purposively sampled qualified radiotherapists involved in paediatric treatment planning and delivery in Gauteng, South Africa. Data were collected through 17 individual, in-depth interviews and underwent thematic analysis. RESULTS: Thematic analysis identified the emotional context in which radiotherapists work when treating paediatric patients and how radiotherapists' familiarity affects their experience of treating paediatric patients. The closeness of contact with the paediatric patient, parents and family dimension impacted participants positively and negatively. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that radiotherapists treating paediatric patients work within a highly intense emotional context. The importance of gaining familiarity and experience in paediatric radiotherapy to enhance competency, was identified. Radiotherapist's experienced both positive and negative implications due to their close contact with the paediatric patient, parents and family dimension. The necessity to advance the practical infrastructural areas and strive for enhanced professionalism to improve paediatric radiotherapy was thus emphasised.

The experiences of mine workers with cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a disease that instils a fear of death in the minds of most people. For South African mine workers, the fear of death is compounded by a fear of being unable to fulfil work obligations in an industry where employment is central to the miners' identity. AIM: The purpose of this research was to explore and describe the experiences of mine workers experiencing a cancer diagnosis requiring radiation therapy. SETTING: Mining towns in the Limpopo province, Thabazimbi and Lephalale. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study design was utilised. The purposeful sample consisted of 11 mine workers receiving treatment at a radiotherapy centre in the North West province. Data were collected using an open-ended questionnaire and individual in-depth telephonic interviews. Data were analysed using open coding to identify themes. RESULTS: The themes identified were the emotional experience resulting from the diagnosis, changing family dynamics and information needs from radiotherapy professionals. The psychosocial support required by this group of patients is unique and radiation therapists need to provide wholistic support that is tailored to address the contextual needs of this group of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Mine workers often live far away from their family and are forced to face the cancer journey alone without family support. Oncology professionals, therefore, need to create supportive structures, including emotional and financial counselling, to ensure compliance with treatment protocols, thus facilitating a positive treatment outcome.