Radiation-induced enteritis is an acute side effect patients may experience when receiving radiation therapy to the pelvis, due to radiation damage to the small bowel. This unwanted effect can be significantly reduced for some patients if their bladder is full when they have treatment, which pushes the small bowel superiorly out of the treatment area. However, bladder volume is hugely variable, and so CBCTs (cone-beam computer tomography) are often used to ensure a full bladder (and often empty rectum) but this does involve the delivery of a small amount of radiation. Bladder scanners are portable ultrasound devices that can measure urinary bladder volume in a fast, accurate, and non-invasive manner and these are beginning to be trialled in the radiation therapy setting, especially in countries such as Canada. They can be used in addition to, or without the use of CBCT, to reduce the number of repeat CBCTs done due to the bladder being too small for treatment. I will examine the benefits and limitations of integrating such a tool in the radiotherapy setting in New Zealand.
Radiographers and Radiological Technologists have important roles in delivering quality images with lowest possible dose. Radiographers are required to take certain steps to protect patients from unnecessary exposures. The International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists (ISRRT) was founded in 1962. The society represents more than 500,000 radiographers and radiological technologists from more than 80 countries. The main mission of the ISRRT is to improve the standards of delivery and practice of medical imaging and radiation therapy throughout the world by acting as the international liaison organization for medical radiation technology and by promoting quality patient care, education and research in the radiation medicine sciences. The ISRRT also provides consultation for other international organizations namely, World Health Organization (WHO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Commission of European Communities (CEC) and International Commission for Radiological Protection (ICRP). The ISRRT has established numbers of projects and activities regarding patient dose optimization and reduction. Those include ‘ISRRT/Philips dose wise radiographers’ project, research grant related to professional practice in dose reduction. In 2014, the ISRRT has initiated a new theme for research funding namely, ‘Roles of radiographers and radiological technologists in justification of medical exposures’.
Radiation therapy is a component of cure in around 40% of cancer patients. However, radiation therapy as a useful treatment for cancer cure and palliation has traditionally had a lower profile compared to surgery and systemic therapies (chemotherapy). This has likely contributed to the utilisation rates for this form of treatment being lower than ideal, even in developed countries such as Australia and New Zealand. The issue is compounded by geographic distance and lack of knowledge of referring general practitioners (GPs) and specialists about the effectiveness of radiation therapy as a cancer treatment.
The Faculty of Radiation Oncology at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) launched an initiative in October 2013 aimed at raising the profile of radiation therapy as a sophisticated, highly targeted, effective and cost-effective form of cancer treatment that often cures patients and/or improves their quality of life. This is a tripartite initiative with the AIR and ACPSEM and we need all radiation oncology professionals to get involved.
The Targeting Cancer campaign, which aims to de-mystify radiation therapy and highlight the safety and quality of modern treatment, is centred on an informative website aimed at consumers and family members as well as GPs. It contains up-to date information about the types, benefits and side effects of radiation therapy, including videos and patient stories.
Through traditional and social media, the campaign has already reached in excess of 8 million people. Through ongoing advocacy, we aim to ensure that all patients in Australia, New Zealand, and beyond, are referred for, and can access, high quality radiation therapy where evidence has shown this might help them.
CPD is now a well-established part of professional practice, in theory at least, though evidence still suggests that effective and critical recording of reflective practice could be improved in health care.1 There is little empirical evidence of CPD actually impacting on practice competence beyond specific skills based courses, though the belief that it does perpetuates the often mandatory requirements for CPD in professional practice. A quick literature search reveals that the number of publications relating to CPD is dropping significantly, showing the dwindling popularity of CPD as a topic across health care, despite new literature being published which deserves looking at CPD afresh. As knowledge of the human body, neuroscience and learning advances, it is becoming clear that new extended models of reflective practice may be beneficial for health care professionals to optimise their investment of time in critical reflection, and recording of reflection, as part of their regular CPD practice. This paper will explore models of generative and transformational learning and change in the context of reflective health care practice, sharing up to date thinking from the latest neuroscience literature to discuss how CPD might be even more effective by incorporating current and revisited theories of learning and change. Suggested models for Effective Reflection in Practice (ERiP) will be offered to encourage MITs to look again at how they evidence ongoing learning and growth, both individually and with peers.
Reference
- Cross V, Liles C, Conduit J, Price J. Linking reflective practice to evidence of competence: a workshop for allied health professionals. Reflective Practice. 2004;5:3–31. [Google Scholar]
This webinar presentation will focus upon how access to high speed internet and technological advances provide a range of affordances which inform, shape and impact upon the ongoing practice, learning and development of health care professionals.
Learners in the 21st Century increasingly expect to be able to exercise choice and a degree of control over the time, place, pace and mode of their learning in addition to optimising how they access their learning, via smart phones, tablets, laptops, PCs, etc.
Using the Enhancing Prostate Cancer Care MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) as a frame of reference, I will share our experiences to help illustrate how utilising and developing your digital capabilities provide an opportunity to enhance your learning, practice and ultimately benefit your patients and the service you provide.
‘Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room’ – Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon
Working with a tight economy, restructuring, and new ways of doing business, the competition for a position or sale has become intense, so who shines out above everyone else in that situation? It's those people that are spending the time developing their own personal brand in a positive way.
With the online channels giving us a soapbox to amplify our message, what else are we giving away, perhaps without even realizing it?
As a professional, think about developing the brand of You.com. Ask yourself, what is it you want to be known for and how do you want others to see you.
This presentation will show you how to put your best digital foot forward.