Australian radiation therapy – Part two: Reflections of the past, the present, the future. Issue 1 (23rd January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Merchant, Susan; Halkett, Georgia; Sale, Charlotte
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical radiation sciences. Volume 61:Issue 1(2014:Mar.)
• Page Start: 51
• Page End: 59
• Publication Date: 2014-01-23
• Subjects: Radiology, Medical -- Periodicals; Radiology, Medical -- Australia -- Periodicals; Radiology, Medical -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Diagnostic imaging -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/jmrs.40
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2051-3895

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jmrs40-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jmrs40-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Introduction</title> <p>Documentation on the history of Australian radiotherapy is limited. This study provides radiation therapists' (RTs) perspectives of the people, workplace, and work practices in Australian radiotherapy centres from 1960 onwards. It provides a follow‐up to our previous study: <italic>Australian radiation therapy: An overview – Part one</italic>, which outlines the history and development of radiotherapy from conception until present day.</p> </sec> <sec id="jmrs40-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Four focus groups were conducted on separate occasions in 2010, one in South Australia and three in Victoria, Australia. Participants who worked in radiotherapy were purposively selected to ensure a range of experience, age, and years of work.</p> </sec> <sec id="jmrs40-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>From a RT perspective, radiotherapy has evolved from a physically demanding 'hands‐on' work environment, often with unpleasant sights and smells of disease, to a more technology‐driven workplace.</p> </sec> <sec id="jmrs40-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Understanding these changes and their subsequent effects on the role of Australian RTs will assist future directions in advanced role development.</p> </sec> </abstract>