Recent Trends in "Manels" and Gender Representation Among Panelists at North American Annual Radiation Oncology Meetings.

PURPOSE: Achieving gender equity in radiation oncology is an important goal, as a smaller proportion of women enter radiation oncology residency compared with those graduating from medical school. As invited speaking opportunities at academic medical conferences are vital for promotion/tenure, we investigated the prevalence of all-men panels ("manels") at American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and Canadian Society of Radiation Oncology (CARO) annual meetings. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Using ASTRO and CARO online meeting programs, 2018 to 2021 faculty information was obtained, including gender, panel role (chair vs nonchair), type of session, and topic. Primary outcomes included percentage of manels and proportion of female panelists over time. Representation of women among chairs was also evaluated. RESULTS: Over the 4-year study period across both conferences, a total of 765 panel sessions were held with 2973 faculty members, of whom 1287 (43.3%) were women. Of these sessions, 127 of 765 (16.6%) were manels. ASTRO meetings had 1169 of 2742 (42.6%) female faculty members and held 107 of 680 (15.7%) manels, whereas CARO meetings had 118 of 231 (51.1%) female faculty and held 20 of 85 manels (23.5%). From 2018 to 2021, the proportion of manels decreased at ASTRO and CARO meetings from 25.6% to 8.2% (P < .001) and from 29.6% to 15.0% (P = .130), respectively. The role of chair was majority male in every year from 2018 to 2021 at ASTRO meetings (58.6% overall), but more balanced at CARO meetings (48.0% overall). Among session types, the highest proportion of manels was observed for scientific sessions (19.1%, P = .011) at ASTRO meetings and leadership sessions (29.4%, P = .533) at CARO meetings. The lowest proportion of female panelists was on genitourinary cancer topics at ASTRO meetings (31.9%, P = .018) and physics topics at CARO meetings (40.4%, P = .085). CONCLUSIONS: During the study period, the proportion of female panelists increased with a corresponding decrease in manels. ASTRO and CARO should strive for further involvement of women and the elimination of manels whenever possible.

Reduciendo el impacto de COVID-19 sobre la radioterapia oncológica en países en desarrollo: revisión rápida y consenso de expertos / Reducing the impact of COVID-19 on radiation oncology units of developing countries: a rapid review and expert consensus

OBJETIVO: Establecer recomendaciones para la toma de decisiones de manejo en radioterapia durante la pandemia de COVID-19, adaptadas a un país con recursos de salud limitados. MÉTODOS: A través de una revisión rápida de la literatura se buscaron publicaciones que describieran medidas para reducir el riesgo de infección por COVID-19, así como también pautas de manejo para reducir la carga de trabajo en las unidades de radioterapia. Se incluyeron en el alcance de esta revisión las siguientes patologías: tumores ginecológicos, cáncer de mama, tumores gastrointestinales, tumores genitourinarios, tumores de cabeza y cuello, cáncer de piel, tumores del sistema nervioso central y linfomas. Un grupo de expertos discutió en línea los datos extraídos y redactó las recomendaciones. Mediante un método Delphi modificado, se evaluó el consenso entre 14 radio-oncólogos certificados. Se evaluó la calidad de la evidencia que sustentó las recomendaciones sobre esquemas de tratamiento. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron un total de 57 documentos. De 25 trabajos se extrajeron las estrategias para reducir el riesgo de infección. De los restantes, se obtuvieron las recomendaciones para cada patología. Las recomendaciones están orientadas a establecer escenarios específicos donde se pueden omitir, diferir, priorizar y acortar los tratamientos. En el ítem de acortar se recomiendan esquemas de tratamiento para cada patología, priorizando los esquemas hipofraccionados cuando fue posible. CONCLUSIÓN: Se plantean estrategias para la gestión de los servicios de radioterapia con el objetivo de garantizar que los tratamientos de alta calidad para pacientes oncológicos sigan entregándose, pese a la crisis sanitaria ocasionada por COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To generate recommendations on the management of radiotherapeutic treatments during the pandemic, adapted to a country with limited health resources. METHODS: We did a rapid review of the literature, searching for papers that describe any measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection, as well as management guidelines to reduce the workload, in radiotherapy units. The following conditions were included in the scope of this review: gynecological tumors, breast cancer, gastrointestinal tumors, genitourinary tumors, head and neck tumors, skin cancer, tumors of the central nervous system, and lymphomas. An expert group discussed online the extracted data and drafted the recommendations. Using a modified Delphi method, the consensus was reached among 14 certificated radio-oncologists. The quality of the evidence that supported the recommendations on treatment schedules was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 57 documents were included. Of these, 25 provided strategies to reduce the risk of infection. Recommendations for each condiction were extracted from the remaining documents. The recommendations aim to establish specific parameters where treatments can be omitted, deferred, prioritized, and shortened. Treatment schemes are recommended for each condition, prioritizing hypo-fractionated schemes whenever possible. CONCLUSIONS: We propose strategies for the management of radiotherapy services to guarantee the continuity of high-quality treatments despite the health crisis caused by COVID-19.

Necessidades atuais de radioterapia no SUS e estimativas para o ano de 2030 / Current radiotherapy needs in SUS and estimates for the year 2030 / Las necesidades actuales de radioterapia en el SUS y las estimaciones para el año 2030

Introdução: O câncer se encontra entre as principais doenças crônicas não transmissíveis do mundo e, para 2030, é esperado um aumento na incidência de 54% em relação a 2015. esse incremento requer estratégias e políticas públicas que visem atender às demandas por tratamento, especialmente terapia de radiação, uma vez que envolve equipamentos e recursos humanos específicos. Objetivos: a presentar o cenário atual da radioterapia no Brasil, seus recursos estruturais e humanos, bem como estimar o cenário da radioterapia para o país em 2030. Método: trata-se de um estudo descritivo realizado com base em referencial teórico e conformado a partir de estimativas populacionais, atual e projetada, bancos de dados de sistemas de informação oficiais e sítios de classe profissional, e em legislação e normas emitidas por órgãos que normatizam e licenciam o tema no Brasil. Resultado: o s resultados obtidos demonstram que o déficit em julho de 2015 no Brasil é de 255 serviços de radioterapia e em recursos humanos de 387 radioterapeutas, 546 físico-médicos e 425 supervisores de produção. Para o ano de 2030, o déficit estimado é de 198 serviços de radioterapia e em recursos humanos de 235 físico-médicos e 114 supervisores de produção. Conclusão: o envelhecimento populacional e o consequente aumento das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis como o câncer exigem dos serviços públicos de saúde um planejamento que garanta as demandas por tratamento. o déficit, atual e projetado, de radioterapia no Brasil sinaliza a urgência de estratégias e políticas públicas capazes de atender às necessidades apresentadas.

Introduction: Cancer is amongst the main non-communicable chronic diseases in the world and for 2030 it is expected to increase in the incidence of 54% compared to 2015. This increase requires public strategies and policies to meet the demands for treatment, especially therapy radiation, since it involves specific equipment and manpower. Objectives: to present the current scenario of radiotherapy in Brazil, its structural and human resources, and to evaluate the scene of radiation to the country in 2030. Method: This is a descriptive study based on reference theoretical and in current and projected population estimates, databases of official information systems and professional class, and legislation and regulations issued by agencies that regulate and license the subject in Brazil. Results: The results showed that the deficit in July 2015 in Brazil is 255 radiotherapy services and human resources of 387 radiation therapists, 546 physical-medical and 425 production supervisors. For the year 2030 the estimated deficit is 198 radiotherapy and human resources of 235 physical-medical and 114 production supervisor. Conclusion: The aging population and consequent increase in chronic diseases like cancer demand the public health services to do some planning to ensure the demand for treatment. The deficit, current and projected radiotherapy in Brazil indicates the urgency of strategies and public policies to meet the needs presented.

Introducción: El cáncer es una de las principales enfermedades crónicas más no transmisibles del mundo y para el 2030 se espera un aumento en la incidencia del 54% en comparación con 2015. este aumento requiere de estrategias y políticas públicas para satisfacer las demandas por tratamiento, especialmente la terapia la radiación, ya que se involucra equipos y mano de obra específica. Objetivos: Presentar el escenario actual de la radioterapia en Brasil, sus recursos estructurales y humanos, y para evaluar la escena de la radioterapia para el país en 2030. Método: se trata de un estudio descriptivo con una base referencial teórica y conformado a partir de las estimativas poblacionales, actualizadas y proyectados, bases de datos de los sistemas de información y los sitios oficiales de clase profesional, y en emisiones de leyes y reglamentos de los organismos que regulan y autorizan el tema en Brasil. Resultados: los resultados mostraron que el déficit en julio de 2015 en Brasil es de 255 servicios de radioterapia y recursos humanos de 387 radioterapeutas, 546 supervisores de producción-físicos médicos y 425. Para el año 2030 el déficit estimado es de 198 radioterapia y recursos humanos de los servicios 235 físicos médicos y 114 supervisores de producción. Conclusión: e l envejecimiento de la población y el consiguiente aumento de las enfermedades crónicas como el cáncer exigen que los servicios de salud pública un planeamiento para asegurar las demandas del tratamiento. e l déficit actual, en radioterapia es proyectado en Brasil indica la urgencia de estrategias y políticas públicas capaces de atender las necesidades que se presentan.