title: Radiation therapists' and radiation oncology medical physicists' perceptions of work and the working environment in Australia: a qualitative study.
abstract: Workforce recruitment and retention are issues in radiation oncology. The working environment is likely to have an impact on retention; however, there is a lack of research in this area. The objectives of this study were to: investigate radiation therapists' (RTs) and radiation oncology medical physicists' (ROMPs) perceptions of work and the working environment; and determine the factors that influence the ability of RTs and ROMPs to undertake their work and how these factors affect recruitment and retention. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and thematic analysis was used. Twenty-eight RTs and 21 ROMPs participated. The overarching themes were delivering care, support in work, working conditions and lifestyle. The overarching themes were mostly consistent across both groups; however, the exemplars reflected the different roles and perspectives of RTs and ROMPs. Participants described the importance they placed on treating patients and improving their lives. Working conditions were sometimes difficult with participants reporting pressure at work, large workloads and longer hours and overtime. Insufficient staff numbers impacted on the effectiveness of staff, the working environment and intentions to stay. Staff satisfaction is likely to be improved if changes are made to the working environment. We make recommendations that may assist departments to support RTs and ROMPs.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia.
authors.forename: G K B
authors.initials: GKB
authors.lastname: Halkett
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Medical Radiation Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Southern Queensland, Darling Heights, Queensland, Australia.|School of Nursing, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Hegney
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Lauren J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Breen
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia.|School of Physics, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ebert
authors.affiliation: Genesis Cancer Care, Perth, Western Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kearvell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000073397:Occupational Stress; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018787:Radiation Oncology; D013997:Time Factors; D016526:Workload; D017132:Workplace
keywords: qualitative methods; radiation oncology; workforce; working environment