Novel Teaching Strategies to Develop Radiation Therapy Students' Competence when Treating Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

This clinical teaching guide is intended to highlight strategies available to radiation therapists in order to promote knowledge, critical thinking, and treatment delivery competence among radiotherapy students when treating patients for cancers of the head and neck. Development of patient care skills through the use of role-playing will be discussed. A case study approach will be discussed in order to facilitate critical thinking skills among students. Development of technical skills among radiotherapy students will include the use of treatment set-up simulation as well as an image matching simulation exercise. At the conclusion of this guide, treatment delivery competency assessment and evaluation for cancers of the head and neck will be discussed.