Professional practice changes in radiotherapy physics during the COVID-19 pandemic

J. Bertholet; M.C. Aznar; C. Garibaldi; D. Thwaites; E. Gershkevitsh; D. Thorwarth; D. Verellen; B. Heijmen; C. Hurkmans; L. Muren; K.R. Redalen; F.A. Siebert; M. Schwarz; W. Van Elmpt; D. Georg; N. Jornet; C.H. Clark

doi:10.1016/j.phro.2021.06.002

Professional practice changes in radiotherapy physics during the COVID-19 pandemic

J. Bertholet^*, M.C. Aznar, C. Garibaldi, D. Thwaites, E. Gershkevitsh, D. Thorwarth, D. Verellen, B. Heijmen, C. Hurkmans, L. Muren, K.R. Redalen, F.A. Siebert, M. Schwarz, W. Van Elmpt, D. Georg, N. Jornet, C.H. Clark

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Background and purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed changes in radiotherapy (RT) departments worldwide. Medical physicists (MPs) are key healthcare professionals in maintaining safe and effective RT. This study reports on MPs experience during the first pandemic peak and explores the consequences on their work.Methods: A 39-question survey on changes in departmental and clinical practice and on the impact for the future was sent to the global MP community. A total of 433 responses were analysed by professional role and by country clustered on the daily infection numbers.Results: The impact of COVID-19 was bigger in countries with high daily infection rate. The majority of MPs worked in alternation at home/on-site. Among practice changes, implementation and/or increased use of hypofractionation was the most common (47% of the respondents). Sixteen percent of respondents modified patient-specific quality assurance (QA), 21% reduced machine QA, and 25% moved machine QA to weekends/ evenings. The perception of trust in leadership and team unity was reversed between management MPs (towards increased trust and unity) and clinical MPs (towards a decrease). Changes such as home-working and increased use of hypofractionation were welcomed. However, some MPs were concerned about pressure to keep negative changes (e.g. weekend work).Conclusion: COVID-19 affected MPs through changes in practice and QA procedures but also in terms of trust in leadership and team unity. Some changes were welcomed but others caused worries for the future. This report forms the basis, from a medical physics perspective, to evaluate long-lasting changes within a multi-disciplinary setting.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	25-32
Number of pages	8
Journal	Physics & Imaging in Radiation Oncology
Volume	19
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phro.2021.06.002
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2021

Keywords

CANCER RADIOTHERAPY
COVID-19
EUROPEAN RADIATION ONCOLOGY
EXPERIENCE
IMPACT
MANAGEMENT
Medical Physics
OUTBREAK
Quality assurance
RECOMMENDATIONS
RISK
Radiotherapy
SARS-CoV-2
Treatment planning
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS

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Cite this

Bertholet, J., Aznar, M. C., Garibaldi, C., Thwaites, D., Gershkevitsh, E., Thorwarth, D., Verellen, D., Heijmen, B., Hurkmans, C., Muren, L., Redalen, K. R., Siebert, F. A., Schwarz, M., Van Elmpt, W., Georg, D., Jornet, N., & Clark, C. H. (2021). Professional practice changes in radiotherapy physics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physics & Imaging in Radiation Oncology, 19, 25-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phro.2021.06.002

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title = "Professional practice changes in radiotherapy physics during the COVID-19 pandemic",

abstract = "Background and purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed changes in radiotherapy (RT) departments worldwide. Medical physicists (MPs) are key healthcare professionals in maintaining safe and effective RT. This study reports on MPs experience during the first pandemic peak and explores the consequences on their work.Methods: A 39-question survey on changes in departmental and clinical practice and on the impact for the future was sent to the global MP community. A total of 433 responses were analysed by professional role and by country clustered on the daily infection numbers.Results: The impact of COVID-19 was bigger in countries with high daily infection rate. The majority of MPs worked in alternation at home/on-site. Among practice changes, implementation and/or increased use of hypofractionation was the most common (47% of the respondents). Sixteen percent of respondents modified patient-specific quality assurance (QA), 21% reduced machine QA, and 25% moved machine QA to weekends/ evenings. The perception of trust in leadership and team unity was reversed between management MPs (towards increased trust and unity) and clinical MPs (towards a decrease). Changes such as home-working and increased use of hypofractionation were welcomed. However, some MPs were concerned about pressure to keep negative changes (e.g. weekend work).Conclusion: COVID-19 affected MPs through changes in practice and QA procedures but also in terms of trust in leadership and team unity. Some changes were welcomed but others caused worries for the future. This report forms the basis, from a medical physics perspective, to evaluate long-lasting changes within a multi-disciplinary setting.",

keywords = "CANCER RADIOTHERAPY, COVID-19, EUROPEAN RADIATION ONCOLOGY, EXPERIENCE, IMPACT, MANAGEMENT, Medical Physics, OUTBREAK, Quality assurance, RECOMMENDATIONS, RISK, Radiotherapy, SARS-CoV-2, Treatment planning, PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS",

author = "J. Bertholet and M.C. Aznar and C. Garibaldi and D. Thwaites and E. Gershkevitsh and D. Thorwarth and D. Verellen and B. Heijmen and C. Hurkmans and L. Muren and K.R. Redalen and F.A. Siebert and M. Schwarz and {Van Elmpt}, W. and D. Georg and N. Jornet and C.H. Clark",

note = "Funding Information: We acknowledge all the respondents of the survey for their detailed answers and for openly sharing their experience. We thank the ESTRO office for technical support. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021",

year = "2021",

month = jul,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.phro.2021.06.002",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

pages = "25--32",

journal = "Physics & Imaging in Radiation Oncology",

issn = "2405-6316",

publisher = "Elsevier Ireland Ltd",

}

Bertholet, J, Aznar, MC, Garibaldi, C, Thwaites, D, Gershkevitsh, E, Thorwarth, D, Verellen, D, Heijmen, B, Hurkmans, C, Muren, L, Redalen, KR, Siebert, FA, Schwarz, M, Van Elmpt, W, Georg, D, Jornet, N & Clark, CH 2021, 'Professional practice changes in radiotherapy physics during the COVID-19 pandemic', Physics & Imaging in Radiation Oncology, vol. 19, pp. 25-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phro.2021.06.002

TY - JOUR

T1 - Professional practice changes in radiotherapy physics during the COVID-19 pandemic

AU - Bertholet, J.

AU - Aznar, M.C.

AU - Garibaldi, C.

AU - Thwaites, D.

AU - Gershkevitsh, E.

AU - Thorwarth, D.

AU - Verellen, D.

AU - Heijmen, B.

AU - Hurkmans, C.

AU - Muren, L.

AU - Redalen, K.R.

AU - Siebert, F.A.

AU - Schwarz, M.

AU - Van Elmpt, W.

AU - Georg, D.

AU - Jornet, N.

AU - Clark, C.H.

N1 - Funding Information: We acknowledge all the respondents of the survey for their detailed answers and for openly sharing their experience. We thank the ESTRO office for technical support. Publisher Copyright: © 2021

PY - 2021/7/1

Y1 - 2021/7/1

N2 - Background and purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed changes in radiotherapy (RT) departments worldwide. Medical physicists (MPs) are key healthcare professionals in maintaining safe and effective RT. This study reports on MPs experience during the first pandemic peak and explores the consequences on their work.Methods: A 39-question survey on changes in departmental and clinical practice and on the impact for the future was sent to the global MP community. A total of 433 responses were analysed by professional role and by country clustered on the daily infection numbers.Results: The impact of COVID-19 was bigger in countries with high daily infection rate. The majority of MPs worked in alternation at home/on-site. Among practice changes, implementation and/or increased use of hypofractionation was the most common (47% of the respondents). Sixteen percent of respondents modified patient-specific quality assurance (QA), 21% reduced machine QA, and 25% moved machine QA to weekends/ evenings. The perception of trust in leadership and team unity was reversed between management MPs (towards increased trust and unity) and clinical MPs (towards a decrease). Changes such as home-working and increased use of hypofractionation were welcomed. However, some MPs were concerned about pressure to keep negative changes (e.g. weekend work).Conclusion: COVID-19 affected MPs through changes in practice and QA procedures but also in terms of trust in leadership and team unity. Some changes were welcomed but others caused worries for the future. This report forms the basis, from a medical physics perspective, to evaluate long-lasting changes within a multi-disciplinary setting.

AB - Background and purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed changes in radiotherapy (RT) departments worldwide. Medical physicists (MPs) are key healthcare professionals in maintaining safe and effective RT. This study reports on MPs experience during the first pandemic peak and explores the consequences on their work.Methods: A 39-question survey on changes in departmental and clinical practice and on the impact for the future was sent to the global MP community. A total of 433 responses were analysed by professional role and by country clustered on the daily infection numbers.Results: The impact of COVID-19 was bigger in countries with high daily infection rate. The majority of MPs worked in alternation at home/on-site. Among practice changes, implementation and/or increased use of hypofractionation was the most common (47% of the respondents). Sixteen percent of respondents modified patient-specific quality assurance (QA), 21% reduced machine QA, and 25% moved machine QA to weekends/ evenings. The perception of trust in leadership and team unity was reversed between management MPs (towards increased trust and unity) and clinical MPs (towards a decrease). Changes such as home-working and increased use of hypofractionation were welcomed. However, some MPs were concerned about pressure to keep negative changes (e.g. weekend work).Conclusion: COVID-19 affected MPs through changes in practice and QA procedures but also in terms of trust in leadership and team unity. Some changes were welcomed but others caused worries for the future. This report forms the basis, from a medical physics perspective, to evaluate long-lasting changes within a multi-disciplinary setting.

KW - CANCER RADIOTHERAPY

KW - COVID-19

KW - EUROPEAN RADIATION ONCOLOGY

KW - EXPERIENCE

KW - IMPACT

KW - MANAGEMENT

KW - Medical Physics

KW - OUTBREAK

KW - Quality assurance

KW - RECOMMENDATIONS

KW - RISK

KW - Radiotherapy

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - Treatment planning

KW - PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS

U2 - 10.1016/j.phro.2021.06.002

DO - 10.1016/j.phro.2021.06.002

M3 - Article

C2 - 34179522

SN - 2405-6316

VL - 19

SP - 25

EP - 32

JO - Physics & Imaging in Radiation Oncology

JF - Physics & Imaging in Radiation Oncology

ER -