Introduction: Educational gamification is the introduction of game elements into other activities... more Introduction: Educational gamification is the introduction of game elements into other activities such as teaching and learning. VERT is a tool in therapeutic radiography that lends itself to gamification as it allows students to experiment and learn at no risk to the patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a gamified simulation using competitive task elements. Method: A total of 78 participants undertook the study which involved a demonstration and practice patient set-up followed by an unassisted timed patient set-up. Once complete the students score was added to a leaderboard. Results: Results show very good students’ feedback on the simulation elements, and that skills were transferable and would improve clinical performance. Gender differences were observed in the competitive feedback on two items, satisfaction from competing and competition encouraging performance. Conclusion: Overall the competitive aspect was viewed positively by students, although females ...
value of informed decision-making. The results indicate the need for greater public education reg... more value of informed decision-making. The results indicate the need for greater public education regarding the benefits and principles of CCTs to increase future trial accrual. EP-2397 Therapeutic Radiographer follow up for prostate cancer patients.
ESTRO 35 2016 ___________________________________________________________________________________... more ESTRO 35 2016 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ relapse-free survival 79.6 % CI95% [72.1-85.2] and colostomyfree survival 81.2% CI95% [74.0-86.6]. Conclusion: IMRT is emerging as a standard therapy for anal cancer. A dosimetric analysis will be done to complete this study.
Patients undergoing cancer treatments, including radiotherapy, frequently report fatigue during t... more Patients undergoing cancer treatments, including radiotherapy, frequently report fatigue during their treatment. Recent research indicates that structured exercise programmes can alleviate fatigue and, in light of this research, many centres are now advocating activity as part of the strategy with which to combat fatigue. The aim of this investigation was to see how well this strategy would be received by patients and what effect it would have on fatigue levels. Of the 147 patients who agreed to take part in the study 123 completed all the questionnaires. Fiftyfour of the patients received the standard advice whilst 69 received the modified advice. Fatigue was measured at four time points using the MFI scale. Fatigue scores at the end of treatment were significantly higher than at the start of treatment but there was no difference in fatigue scores between the two groups of patients receiving the different advice. Activity levels between the two groups were comparable, as was their ...
Background: Cancer related fatigue, a symptom that was largely ignored in the past, is now regard... more Background: Cancer related fatigue, a symptom that was largely ignored in the past, is now regarded by health care professionals as being one of the most important patient issues because of its prevalence and impact on patients undergoing the various cancer treatments. Over the past 10 years the interest in this field has increased and the information available about this subject area has vastly improved. As a result of these changes it was decided to survey the two main professions involved with this patient group to identify what information is currently given to the patients regarding radiotherapy-related fatigue and to assess the professional's knowledge. Method: Questionnaires designed to ascertain health care professionals' knowledge about the subject area and the advice that they would give a patient were sent to a total of 29 hospitals. Results/Conclusion: An overall response rate of 56% was obtained which was greater for radiographers (71%) than for nurses (41%). The advice being given to the patients was essentially the same for both groups however the nurses tended to give the advice at the start of treatment whereas radiographers tended to wait until the patient was symptomatic which, it is argued, is not the best method. Advice would be modified by both health care groups depending on the site treated, however there was no general agreement about which site would cause most fatigue. Despite these differences in advice to patients, the knowledge of fatigue was found to be similar for both groups.
Introduction: How groups view themselves and each other is very important in order to promote eff... more Introduction: How groups view themselves and each other is very important in order to promote effective work practices. These views can be tribal in nature and lead to stereotyping which may affect how we communicate and act with other groups. This study primarily aims to identify how student radiographers view their own and other radiographic profession. Method: A survey was undertaken using the Student Stereotypes Rating Questionnaire with all radiographic training sites in England. The questionnaire was given to radiography students training as either diagnostic radiographers or therapeutic radiographers. It asked students to rate four professions: doctors, diagnostic radiographers, therapeutic radiographers and nurses on nine characteristics. Results: The online survey was open between February and July 2019 and elicited 233 responses. Overall, the radiography students’ perceptions of their own profession and the other non-radiography professions were generally positive; however...
Thank you to the peer reviewers for your time and ongoing support. Your assessments and recommend... more Thank you to the peer reviewers for your time and ongoing support. Your assessments and recommendations are very important as they contributed to producing quality publications in Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences.
Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Research: Skills and Strategies, 2020
In this chapter the different types of data that you may come across in quantitative research are... more In this chapter the different types of data that you may come across in quantitative research are explored. How data might be first described using various descriptive statistics is addressed before looking at which statistical tool is most appropriate to use and why. The distribution of data, particularly normal distribution curve that helps in the choice of both descriptive statistics and the inferential statistical test is discussed. The two forms of hypotheses, alternate and null, are introduced as well as probability levels and means of establishing whether the data are normally distributed or not. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) printouts of some of the more commonly used tests described in the chapter are included to show how to interpret data in order to come to the correct conclusion regarding reporting of the findings.
In this chapter common research methods for epidemiological studies are considered. The concept o... more In this chapter common research methods for epidemiological studies are considered. The concept of epidemiology is introduced and its importance is considered in terms of the common designs of such studies, and the criteria that are often used to establish causality are covered. The type of data generated by such studies is introduced along with the methods of reporting on the data by using odds ratios and relative risks, as well as simple examples of how these figures are calculated. Finally consideration is given on how to interpret the reported findings of such studies from publications.
Experimentation on an RT250 Phillips X-ray machine, used to treat superficial skin lesions, led t... more Experimentation on an RT250 Phillips X-ray machine, used to treat superficial skin lesions, led to the discovery of deformed treatment fields, which was investigated using X-ray film. The cause of the field irregularity was found to be due to the circular applicators becoming misaligned in the housing. The treatment field was deformed when using the 3 cm and 3.5 cm applicators giving grounds to recommend the removal of these applicators from clinical use.
The basis of any good piece of research is making sure you have sampled correctly and avoided bia... more The basis of any good piece of research is making sure you have sampled correctly and avoided bias. In this chapter the need for sampling is considered. The more commonly used methods of obtaining a sample in quantitative research are reviewed. The importance of a sample reflecting the population, and the various forms of bias that might arise because of study design with particular reference to health research, are discussed. Random and systematic errors and how they affect the data being collected are discussed. An overview of considerations are taken into account when looking at sample size and power is included. The concepts of reliability and validity are discussed along with common methods of establishing reliability and validity of measurement.
Introduction The ScanTrainer transvaginal ultrasound simulator has been developed to facilitate i... more Introduction The ScanTrainer transvaginal ultrasound simulator has been developed to facilitate initial training of transvaginal ultrasound skills without patient contact. Due to the intimate nature of the examination and in some cases, limited training opportunities, the need for simulation-based education in ultrasound has gained momentum. Currently, research into the effectiveness of the ScanTrainer is limited. Methods A mixed method study was conducted in a single institution between October 2011 and January 2012. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling and allocated to the control (clinical training) or experimental (simulation training) group following a pre-test. After 10 hours of their allocated transvaginal ultrasound training method a post-test assessment was conducted and the results statistically analysed. Participants then experienced the alternative method of training and completed questionnaires. The results were used to inform semi-structured interview...
In 2009 an asynchronous on-line case discussion assessment was introduced, to replace an existing... more In 2009 an asynchronous on-line case discussion assessment was introduced, to replace an existing traditional case-study assessment, within the Medical Ultrasound Programmes at City University London, to help extend collaborative, interprofessional student-led learning skills. Two clinical modules were used to develop the on-line learning method with associated assessments. Students selected and led a clinical case from their department, uploaded anonymised images and case details with questions, to encourage interaction from other colleagues. Thirty students participated in the on-line case discussions. The assessment was evaluated via informal feedback, end of module feedback and an on-line questionnaire. Some students completed two modules, using the on-line discussion, others were involved in only one module, of which 21 out of 26 students completed end of module feedback for the 1 st module and 18 out of 20 students completed feedback from the 2 nd module. Twelve students out of 30 completed the on-line questionnaire. Feedback suggested that the on-line case discussions were a good learning tool, providing a wide range of cases for students to participate in or read and learn from each other. All students found the cases interesting, engaging and useful, but time consuming.
study objective: the study intended to investigate the possible relationship between physical act... more study objective: the study intended to investigate the possible relationship between physical activity and prostate cancer risk on a previously unexamined population set.design: a population-based study was conducted on males entered on the irish cancer registry between the years 1994 to 1997 to investigate if physical activity affected the risk of prostate cancer. activity was coded for three levels of occupational activity and the odds ratios were calculated together with 95% confidence limits.results: despite limitations in the data, an elevated risk (odds ratio 2.13, 95% confidence interval 1.29–3.52) was seen in working subjects with low levels of activity compared with the high activity group. in the retired group there was a slight elevation of risk, although it was not statistically significant.conclusion: the study suggests that physical activity offers a small but significant reduction in prostate cancer risk for those people in work.
The education of the radiography profession is based within higher education establishments, yet ... more The education of the radiography profession is based within higher education establishments, yet a critical part of all radiography programmes is the clinical component where students learn the practical skills of the profession. Assessments therefore not only have to assess a student’s knowledge, but also their clinical competence and core skills in line with both Health and Care Professions Council and the Society and College of Radiographers requirements. This timely thesis examines the possibility of using the Virtual Environment for RadioTherapy (VERT) as an assessment tool to evaluate a student’s competence so giving the advantage of a standard assessment and relieving time pressures in the clinical department. A mixed methods approach was taken which can be described as a Quantitative Qualitative design with the emphasis being on the Quantitative element; a so called QUAN qual design. The quantitative evaluation compared two simulations, one in the virtual reality environme...
Background. Information is key to patient informed choice and the internet is currently a major s... more Background. Information is key to patient informed choice and the internet is currently a major source of health information for adults in the UK. In order for the users to make use of the information it must be presented in a way that the user can understand. This depends on a number of factors one being that the document is written at the right level to be understood by the reader, readability. Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the readability of radiotherapy related documents on the internet and compare their levels to published norms. Method. An internet search was undertaken using Google, to identify UK based literature. Once identified documents were downloaded into Word and cleaned of punctuation other than that at the end of the sentence, documents were then analysed by the software package Readability Studio. Results and Conclusions. Documents tended to be written at too high a reading level, but the reading level had improved from a similar study conducted in 2006. The level of readability appears to show a relationship to the use of passive voice, which was very variable in the sample collected and reduction in the use of passive voice could help with the readability of the information.
Ergonomic training is necessary to help reduce work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD) in sonog... more Ergonomic training is necessary to help reduce work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD) in sonographers. This study provided an ergonomic training session for sonographers, to determine whether a teaching intervention changed the grip force used to hold a transducer. Thirteen practitioners participated and were placed into two groups (intervention group n = 7). Participants were asked to scan the same simulated transabdominal early pregnancy case. An ergometer was used, which enabled all participants to hear the effect of holding the transducer tightly. Their matched grip force was measured before and after the intervention using a dynamometer. The intervention group reviewed videos and photographs taken during the scan to see if this affected the matched grip force further. Study findings showed that the short ergonomic training session with the use of an ergometer significantly reduced the matched grip force applied to a transducer ( P < .05) for all participants. The video/ph...
Introduction: Educational gamification is the introduction of game elements into other activities... more Introduction: Educational gamification is the introduction of game elements into other activities such as teaching and learning. VERT is a tool in therapeutic radiography that lends itself to gamification as it allows students to experiment and learn at no risk to the patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a gamified simulation using competitive task elements. Method: A total of 78 participants undertook the study which involved a demonstration and practice patient set-up followed by an unassisted timed patient set-up. Once complete the students score was added to a leaderboard. Results: Results show very good students’ feedback on the simulation elements, and that skills were transferable and would improve clinical performance. Gender differences were observed in the competitive feedback on two items, satisfaction from competing and competition encouraging performance. Conclusion: Overall the competitive aspect was viewed positively by students, although females ...
value of informed decision-making. The results indicate the need for greater public education reg... more value of informed decision-making. The results indicate the need for greater public education regarding the benefits and principles of CCTs to increase future trial accrual. EP-2397 Therapeutic Radiographer follow up for prostate cancer patients.
ESTRO 35 2016 ___________________________________________________________________________________... more ESTRO 35 2016 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ relapse-free survival 79.6 % CI95% [72.1-85.2] and colostomyfree survival 81.2% CI95% [74.0-86.6]. Conclusion: IMRT is emerging as a standard therapy for anal cancer. A dosimetric analysis will be done to complete this study.
Patients undergoing cancer treatments, including radiotherapy, frequently report fatigue during t... more Patients undergoing cancer treatments, including radiotherapy, frequently report fatigue during their treatment. Recent research indicates that structured exercise programmes can alleviate fatigue and, in light of this research, many centres are now advocating activity as part of the strategy with which to combat fatigue. The aim of this investigation was to see how well this strategy would be received by patients and what effect it would have on fatigue levels. Of the 147 patients who agreed to take part in the study 123 completed all the questionnaires. Fiftyfour of the patients received the standard advice whilst 69 received the modified advice. Fatigue was measured at four time points using the MFI scale. Fatigue scores at the end of treatment were significantly higher than at the start of treatment but there was no difference in fatigue scores between the two groups of patients receiving the different advice. Activity levels between the two groups were comparable, as was their ...
Background: Cancer related fatigue, a symptom that was largely ignored in the past, is now regard... more Background: Cancer related fatigue, a symptom that was largely ignored in the past, is now regarded by health care professionals as being one of the most important patient issues because of its prevalence and impact on patients undergoing the various cancer treatments. Over the past 10 years the interest in this field has increased and the information available about this subject area has vastly improved. As a result of these changes it was decided to survey the two main professions involved with this patient group to identify what information is currently given to the patients regarding radiotherapy-related fatigue and to assess the professional's knowledge. Method: Questionnaires designed to ascertain health care professionals' knowledge about the subject area and the advice that they would give a patient were sent to a total of 29 hospitals. Results/Conclusion: An overall response rate of 56% was obtained which was greater for radiographers (71%) than for nurses (41%). The advice being given to the patients was essentially the same for both groups however the nurses tended to give the advice at the start of treatment whereas radiographers tended to wait until the patient was symptomatic which, it is argued, is not the best method. Advice would be modified by both health care groups depending on the site treated, however there was no general agreement about which site would cause most fatigue. Despite these differences in advice to patients, the knowledge of fatigue was found to be similar for both groups.
Introduction: How groups view themselves and each other is very important in order to promote eff... more Introduction: How groups view themselves and each other is very important in order to promote effective work practices. These views can be tribal in nature and lead to stereotyping which may affect how we communicate and act with other groups. This study primarily aims to identify how student radiographers view their own and other radiographic profession. Method: A survey was undertaken using the Student Stereotypes Rating Questionnaire with all radiographic training sites in England. The questionnaire was given to radiography students training as either diagnostic radiographers or therapeutic radiographers. It asked students to rate four professions: doctors, diagnostic radiographers, therapeutic radiographers and nurses on nine characteristics. Results: The online survey was open between February and July 2019 and elicited 233 responses. Overall, the radiography students’ perceptions of their own profession and the other non-radiography professions were generally positive; however...
Thank you to the peer reviewers for your time and ongoing support. Your assessments and recommend... more Thank you to the peer reviewers for your time and ongoing support. Your assessments and recommendations are very important as they contributed to producing quality publications in Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences.
Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Research: Skills and Strategies, 2020
In this chapter the different types of data that you may come across in quantitative research are... more In this chapter the different types of data that you may come across in quantitative research are explored. How data might be first described using various descriptive statistics is addressed before looking at which statistical tool is most appropriate to use and why. The distribution of data, particularly normal distribution curve that helps in the choice of both descriptive statistics and the inferential statistical test is discussed. The two forms of hypotheses, alternate and null, are introduced as well as probability levels and means of establishing whether the data are normally distributed or not. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) printouts of some of the more commonly used tests described in the chapter are included to show how to interpret data in order to come to the correct conclusion regarding reporting of the findings.
In this chapter common research methods for epidemiological studies are considered. The concept o... more In this chapter common research methods for epidemiological studies are considered. The concept of epidemiology is introduced and its importance is considered in terms of the common designs of such studies, and the criteria that are often used to establish causality are covered. The type of data generated by such studies is introduced along with the methods of reporting on the data by using odds ratios and relative risks, as well as simple examples of how these figures are calculated. Finally consideration is given on how to interpret the reported findings of such studies from publications.
Experimentation on an RT250 Phillips X-ray machine, used to treat superficial skin lesions, led t... more Experimentation on an RT250 Phillips X-ray machine, used to treat superficial skin lesions, led to the discovery of deformed treatment fields, which was investigated using X-ray film. The cause of the field irregularity was found to be due to the circular applicators becoming misaligned in the housing. The treatment field was deformed when using the 3 cm and 3.5 cm applicators giving grounds to recommend the removal of these applicators from clinical use.
The basis of any good piece of research is making sure you have sampled correctly and avoided bia... more The basis of any good piece of research is making sure you have sampled correctly and avoided bias. In this chapter the need for sampling is considered. The more commonly used methods of obtaining a sample in quantitative research are reviewed. The importance of a sample reflecting the population, and the various forms of bias that might arise because of study design with particular reference to health research, are discussed. Random and systematic errors and how they affect the data being collected are discussed. An overview of considerations are taken into account when looking at sample size and power is included. The concepts of reliability and validity are discussed along with common methods of establishing reliability and validity of measurement.
Introduction The ScanTrainer transvaginal ultrasound simulator has been developed to facilitate i... more Introduction The ScanTrainer transvaginal ultrasound simulator has been developed to facilitate initial training of transvaginal ultrasound skills without patient contact. Due to the intimate nature of the examination and in some cases, limited training opportunities, the need for simulation-based education in ultrasound has gained momentum. Currently, research into the effectiveness of the ScanTrainer is limited. Methods A mixed method study was conducted in a single institution between October 2011 and January 2012. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling and allocated to the control (clinical training) or experimental (simulation training) group following a pre-test. After 10 hours of their allocated transvaginal ultrasound training method a post-test assessment was conducted and the results statistically analysed. Participants then experienced the alternative method of training and completed questionnaires. The results were used to inform semi-structured interview...
In 2009 an asynchronous on-line case discussion assessment was introduced, to replace an existing... more In 2009 an asynchronous on-line case discussion assessment was introduced, to replace an existing traditional case-study assessment, within the Medical Ultrasound Programmes at City University London, to help extend collaborative, interprofessional student-led learning skills. Two clinical modules were used to develop the on-line learning method with associated assessments. Students selected and led a clinical case from their department, uploaded anonymised images and case details with questions, to encourage interaction from other colleagues. Thirty students participated in the on-line case discussions. The assessment was evaluated via informal feedback, end of module feedback and an on-line questionnaire. Some students completed two modules, using the on-line discussion, others were involved in only one module, of which 21 out of 26 students completed end of module feedback for the 1 st module and 18 out of 20 students completed feedback from the 2 nd module. Twelve students out of 30 completed the on-line questionnaire. Feedback suggested that the on-line case discussions were a good learning tool, providing a wide range of cases for students to participate in or read and learn from each other. All students found the cases interesting, engaging and useful, but time consuming.
study objective: the study intended to investigate the possible relationship between physical act... more study objective: the study intended to investigate the possible relationship between physical activity and prostate cancer risk on a previously unexamined population set.design: a population-based study was conducted on males entered on the irish cancer registry between the years 1994 to 1997 to investigate if physical activity affected the risk of prostate cancer. activity was coded for three levels of occupational activity and the odds ratios were calculated together with 95% confidence limits.results: despite limitations in the data, an elevated risk (odds ratio 2.13, 95% confidence interval 1.29–3.52) was seen in working subjects with low levels of activity compared with the high activity group. in the retired group there was a slight elevation of risk, although it was not statistically significant.conclusion: the study suggests that physical activity offers a small but significant reduction in prostate cancer risk for those people in work.
The education of the radiography profession is based within higher education establishments, yet ... more The education of the radiography profession is based within higher education establishments, yet a critical part of all radiography programmes is the clinical component where students learn the practical skills of the profession. Assessments therefore not only have to assess a student’s knowledge, but also their clinical competence and core skills in line with both Health and Care Professions Council and the Society and College of Radiographers requirements. This timely thesis examines the possibility of using the Virtual Environment for RadioTherapy (VERT) as an assessment tool to evaluate a student’s competence so giving the advantage of a standard assessment and relieving time pressures in the clinical department. A mixed methods approach was taken which can be described as a Quantitative Qualitative design with the emphasis being on the Quantitative element; a so called QUAN qual design. The quantitative evaluation compared two simulations, one in the virtual reality environme...
Background. Information is key to patient informed choice and the internet is currently a major s... more Background. Information is key to patient informed choice and the internet is currently a major source of health information for adults in the UK. In order for the users to make use of the information it must be presented in a way that the user can understand. This depends on a number of factors one being that the document is written at the right level to be understood by the reader, readability. Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the readability of radiotherapy related documents on the internet and compare their levels to published norms. Method. An internet search was undertaken using Google, to identify UK based literature. Once identified documents were downloaded into Word and cleaned of punctuation other than that at the end of the sentence, documents were then analysed by the software package Readability Studio. Results and Conclusions. Documents tended to be written at too high a reading level, but the reading level had improved from a similar study conducted in 2006. The level of readability appears to show a relationship to the use of passive voice, which was very variable in the sample collected and reduction in the use of passive voice could help with the readability of the information.
Ergonomic training is necessary to help reduce work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD) in sonog... more Ergonomic training is necessary to help reduce work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD) in sonographers. This study provided an ergonomic training session for sonographers, to determine whether a teaching intervention changed the grip force used to hold a transducer. Thirteen practitioners participated and were placed into two groups (intervention group n = 7). Participants were asked to scan the same simulated transabdominal early pregnancy case. An ergometer was used, which enabled all participants to hear the effect of holding the transducer tightly. Their matched grip force was measured before and after the intervention using a dynamometer. The intervention group reviewed videos and photographs taken during the scan to see if this affected the matched grip force further. Study findings showed that the short ergonomic training session with the use of an ergometer significantly reduced the matched grip force applied to a transducer ( P < .05) for all participants. The video/ph...
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