PP03 Presentation Time: 4:18 PM

Purpose

The documented decline in brachytherapy (BT) utilization in some parts of the world has caused concern for the impact this may have on resident (or equivalent) training and education. The AAPM established a BT survey subunit (UN72) in 2018 with the goals of (1) assessing the current state of medical physics resident BT education on a global scale and (2) collecting data to allow comparison of BT training challenges and opportunities between different organizational systems.

Materials and Methods

UN72 collaborated with representatives from COMP, GEC-ESTRO, and ABG. The team designed a survey consisting of 26 questions of four types, including multiple choice, select all that apply, free response, and five-point scale. Information was collected in six subject areas including: (1) Trainee demographics, (2) Training methods, (3) Caseload and confidence levels, (4) Future plans and interest in performing BT, (5) Interest in additional BT training opportunities, and (6) Trainee practice impressions. The survey was reviewed and approved for distribution by the AAPM as well as the UN72 collaborators. Within the AAPM, the survey was distributed to current residents and recent graduates of CAMPEP-accredited medical physics residency programs. This survey closed in March 2022 and the results are summarized in a manuscript currently under review. The same survey was distributed separately to resident members of COMP, GEC-ESTRO, and ABG and was closed for responses in March 2022. This abstract summarizes the results of the international survey, considering the contributions of GEC-ESTRO, ABG, and COMP.

Results

The survey received 183 (AAPM), 41 (ABG), 106 (GEC-ESTRO), and 13 (COMP) responses. The majority of respondents from AAPM (60%), ABG (67%), and GEC-ESTRO (69%) had completed their training whereas 62% of COMP respondents were currently enrolled in their program at the time of survey completion. The results presented are for those who had completed their training program. At least 63% of respondents in each organization expressed interest in performing BT at their first post-residency position and at least 55% in each organization indicated their first position would require them to perform BT. 64% (AAPM), 56% (GEC-ESTRO), 59% (ABG) and 40% (COMP) of respondents wished they had additional BT training opportunities. Of those expressing interest in additional training opportunities, the majority in each organization said they would be ‘very likely’ or ‘likely’ to select BT as an elective rotation if one were offered at their training institute, the majority expressed interest in performing a post-residency fellowship (Figure 1) if one were available, and 76% (AAPM), 83% (GEC-ESTRO), 84% (ABG), and 50% (COMP) expressed interest in completing a BT rotation at an institution with a higher caseload or a greater variety of cases.

Conclusions

The majority of respondents from each of the participating international organizations expressed interest in additional BT training opportunities and in completing a BT elective rotation, a post-residency fellowship, and rotations outside of their primary training institute. This desire for additional training is consistent with the results from residents surveyed within the AAPM and indicates a global interest for expanding BT training opportunities.