Radiotherapy teaching during COVID-19: An emergency teaching response
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in more than six million deaths in the first two years, a third of the estimated number of cancer-related deaths during this time. It directly impacted radiotherapy training in Africa. Aim: This study evaluated the changes applie...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2022-12-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Oncology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sajo.org.za/index.php/sajo/article/view/251 |
| _version_ | 1828089370756775936 |
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| author | Hester Burger Nanette Joubert Bridget Wyrley-Birch Natalia Vowles Antonella Fogliata Theresa Binz Jeannette D. Parkes |
| author_facet | Hester Burger Nanette Joubert Bridget Wyrley-Birch Natalia Vowles Antonella Fogliata Theresa Binz Jeannette D. Parkes |
| author_sort | Hester Burger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in more than six million deaths in the first two years, a third of the estimated number of cancer-related deaths during this time. It directly impacted radiotherapy training in Africa.
Aim: This study evaluated the changes applied to the Access to Care Cape Town Radiotherapy training programme during the pandemic.
Setting: The training platform prior to March 2020 was used as a baseline and compared with the programme status in January 2022, representing the emergency teaching model.
Methods: Five themes were investigated: computer hardware and software changes; e-Learning resources; programme and curriculum changes; challenges experienced and alignment with modern medical education principles.
Results: Reconfiguration of the computer laboratories was required, including additional computer monitors, web cameras and headsets, as well as installation of screen recording and teleconferencing software. The EclipseTM radiotherapy treatment planning laboratory was reconfigured for remote student access, with simultaneous monitoring by local assistants. Online learning was augmented by adding the University of Cape Town VulaTM system as resource, and courses restructured for delivery of short blocks. Five new courses were developed, including collaborations with international training partners, showing good alignment with the principles of modern medical education.
Conclusion: Reconfiguration was performed at a manageable cost but required a high level of information technology support. Connectivity and bandwidth issues remain a challenge, as well as online engagement.
Contribution: Despite these challenges, the virtualisation allowed for continued training between March 2020 and December 2021, with 18 departments attending remote teaching courses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:38:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e6e6cfac6c0b4c469f0d1a1286c0ea1f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2518-8704 2523-0646 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:38:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e6e6cfac6c0b4c469f0d1a1286c0ea1f2022-12-22T10:28:08ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Oncology2518-87042523-06462022-12-0160e1e910.4102/sajo.v6i0.251103Radiotherapy teaching during COVID-19: An emergency teaching responseHester Burger0Nanette Joubert1Bridget Wyrley-Birch2Natalia Vowles3Antonella Fogliata4Theresa Binz5Jeannette D. Parkes6Department of Radiation Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; and, Medical Affairs Division, Varian Medical Systems, Cape TownDepartment of Radiation Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape TownDepartment of Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape TownDepartment of Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape TownRadiQa Developments, Bellinzona, Switzerland; and, Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan-RozzanaPlanning for Africa, Abu DhabiDepartment of Radiation Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape TownBackground: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in more than six million deaths in the first two years, a third of the estimated number of cancer-related deaths during this time. It directly impacted radiotherapy training in Africa. Aim: This study evaluated the changes applied to the Access to Care Cape Town Radiotherapy training programme during the pandemic. Setting: The training platform prior to March 2020 was used as a baseline and compared with the programme status in January 2022, representing the emergency teaching model. Methods: Five themes were investigated: computer hardware and software changes; e-Learning resources; programme and curriculum changes; challenges experienced and alignment with modern medical education principles. Results: Reconfiguration of the computer laboratories was required, including additional computer monitors, web cameras and headsets, as well as installation of screen recording and teleconferencing software. The EclipseTM radiotherapy treatment planning laboratory was reconfigured for remote student access, with simultaneous monitoring by local assistants. Online learning was augmented by adding the University of Cape Town VulaTM system as resource, and courses restructured for delivery of short blocks. Five new courses were developed, including collaborations with international training partners, showing good alignment with the principles of modern medical education. Conclusion: Reconfiguration was performed at a manageable cost but required a high level of information technology support. Connectivity and bandwidth issues remain a challenge, as well as online engagement. Contribution: Despite these challenges, the virtualisation allowed for continued training between March 2020 and December 2021, with 18 departments attending remote teaching courses.https://sajo.org.za/index.php/sajo/article/view/251covid-19remote teachingradiotherapy traininghybrid traininge-learningvirtual realitytreatment planninglmicafrica |
| spellingShingle | Hester Burger Nanette Joubert Bridget Wyrley-Birch Natalia Vowles Antonella Fogliata Theresa Binz Jeannette D. Parkes Radiotherapy teaching during COVID-19: An emergency teaching response South African Journal of Oncology covid-19 remote teaching radiotherapy training hybrid training e-learning virtual reality treatment planning lmic africa |
| title | Radiotherapy teaching during COVID-19: An emergency teaching response |
| title_full | Radiotherapy teaching during COVID-19: An emergency teaching response |
| title_fullStr | Radiotherapy teaching during COVID-19: An emergency teaching response |
| title_full_unstemmed | Radiotherapy teaching during COVID-19: An emergency teaching response |
| title_short | Radiotherapy teaching during COVID-19: An emergency teaching response |
| title_sort | radiotherapy teaching during covid 19 an emergency teaching response |
| topic | covid-19 remote teaching radiotherapy training hybrid training e-learning virtual reality treatment planning lmic africa |
| url | https://sajo.org.za/index.php/sajo/article/view/251 |
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