Do radiation therapists feel able to routinely screen for symptoms and distress in people with cancer: barriers impacting practice
Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate radiation therapists’ (RTs) perceptions regarding the perceived barriers, knowledge, attitudes, confidence and role in administering an electronic screening tool to routinely screen for cancer patients’ symptoms and distress. Methods: RTs at two radiati...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86528 |
| _version_ | 1848764846027309056 |
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| author | Arnold, B.L. Halkett, Georgia Dhillon, H. Girgis, A. |
| author_facet | Arnold, B.L. Halkett, Georgia Dhillon, H. Girgis, A. |
| author_sort | Arnold, B.L. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate radiation therapists’ (RTs) perceptions regarding the perceived barriers, knowledge, attitudes, confidence and role in administering an electronic screening tool to routinely screen for cancer patients’ symptoms and distress.
Methods: RTs at two radiation therapy departments completed a cross-sectional paper/pen survey to assess their demographic and workplace characteristics, perceptions of barriers, knowledge, attitudes, confidence and opinion of their role in symptom and distress screening. Responses were evaluated using simple frequencies and free-text responses using thematic analysis.
Results: Of 39 RTs approached, 37 (95%) participated. The majority had not previously attended any emotional cues (77%) or psychosocial training (86%); 68% reported confidence discussing psychosocial concerns and recognising signs of anxiety and depression in patients, and 65% felt discussing patients’ psychosocial concerns was part of their role. Administering the tool to patients was agreed to be the role of RTs by 38% of participants. Lack of education about psychosocial issues was the highest-ranked barrier to delivering the patient screening tool, with 74% of RTs responding ‘it has made it difficult’.
Conclusion: Whilst RTs are willing to play a role in patients’ psychosocial support, they do not feel able to fulfil this role adequately because they lacked knowledge and confidence to administer symptom and distress screening. This research has highlighted the need for RT education on psychosocial concerns and recognising and responding to emotional cues. Understanding the impact education may have on the knowledge, attitude, confidence and role of RTs performing routine symptom and distress screening is required. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:25:50Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-86528 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:25:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-865282021-12-07T05:53:52Z Do radiation therapists feel able to routinely screen for symptoms and distress in people with cancer: barriers impacting practice Arnold, B.L. Halkett, Georgia Dhillon, H. Girgis, A. Attitude education emotional cues psychosocial support radiation therapist role Anxiety Cross-Sectional Studies Delivery of Health Care Humans Neoplasms Psychosocial Support Systems Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate radiation therapists’ (RTs) perceptions regarding the perceived barriers, knowledge, attitudes, confidence and role in administering an electronic screening tool to routinely screen for cancer patients’ symptoms and distress. Methods: RTs at two radiation therapy departments completed a cross-sectional paper/pen survey to assess their demographic and workplace characteristics, perceptions of barriers, knowledge, attitudes, confidence and opinion of their role in symptom and distress screening. Responses were evaluated using simple frequencies and free-text responses using thematic analysis. Results: Of 39 RTs approached, 37 (95%) participated. The majority had not previously attended any emotional cues (77%) or psychosocial training (86%); 68% reported confidence discussing psychosocial concerns and recognising signs of anxiety and depression in patients, and 65% felt discussing patients’ psychosocial concerns was part of their role. Administering the tool to patients was agreed to be the role of RTs by 38% of participants. Lack of education about psychosocial issues was the highest-ranked barrier to delivering the patient screening tool, with 74% of RTs responding ‘it has made it difficult’. Conclusion: Whilst RTs are willing to play a role in patients’ psychosocial support, they do not feel able to fulfil this role adequately because they lacked knowledge and confidence to administer symptom and distress screening. This research has highlighted the need for RT education on psychosocial concerns and recognising and responding to emotional cues. Understanding the impact education may have on the knowledge, attitude, confidence and role of RTs performing routine symptom and distress screening is required. 2021 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86528 10.1002/jmrs.465 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Attitude education emotional cues psychosocial support radiation therapist role Anxiety Cross-Sectional Studies Delivery of Health Care Humans Neoplasms Psychosocial Support Systems Arnold, B.L. Halkett, Georgia Dhillon, H. Girgis, A. Do radiation therapists feel able to routinely screen for symptoms and distress in people with cancer: barriers impacting practice |
| title | Do radiation therapists feel able to routinely screen for symptoms and distress in people with cancer: barriers impacting practice |
| title_full | Do radiation therapists feel able to routinely screen for symptoms and distress in people with cancer: barriers impacting practice |
| title_fullStr | Do radiation therapists feel able to routinely screen for symptoms and distress in people with cancer: barriers impacting practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Do radiation therapists feel able to routinely screen for symptoms and distress in people with cancer: barriers impacting practice |
| title_short | Do radiation therapists feel able to routinely screen for symptoms and distress in people with cancer: barriers impacting practice |
| title_sort | do radiation therapists feel able to routinely screen for symptoms and distress in people with cancer: barriers impacting practice |
| topic | Attitude education emotional cues psychosocial support radiation therapist role Anxiety Cross-Sectional Studies Delivery of Health Care Humans Neoplasms Psychosocial Support Systems |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86528 |