Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39303779›Full record

ArticlePractical radiation oncology

Quantitative Assessment of Full-Time Equivalent Effort for Kilovoltage-Cone Beam Computed Tomography Guided Online Adaptive Radiation Therapy for Medical Physicists.

Natalie N Viscariello, Kristen McConnell, Joseph Harms, Joel A Pogue, Xenia Ray, Eric Laugeman, Richard A Popple, Dennis N Stanley, Carlos E Cardenas

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Practical radiation oncology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
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  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Natalie N ViscarielloDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama. Electronic address: nnviscariello@uabmc.edu.
Kristen McConnellDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, Florida; Department of Radiation Oncology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
Joseph HarmsDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Joel A PogueDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Xenia RayDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California.
Eric LaugemanDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Washington University St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.
Richard A PoppleDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Dennis N StanleyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Carlos E CardenasDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.

Funding

DEEP SOUTH TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH MENTORED CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMKL2TR003097 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · PI SAAG, KENNETH G · 2019 to 2023
$5.2M
CTSA K12 Program at the University of Alabama at BirminghamK12TR004769 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · PI Renee A. Heffron, Lucio Miele · 2024 to 2026
$4.8M
NCATS NIH HHS K12 TR004769NCATS NIH HHS KL2 TR003097NCI NIH HHS L30 CA284339
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeWith recent clinical adoption of online adaptive radiation therapy (oART) and the increased workload associated with adaptive radiation therapy (RT), proper staffing for medical physicists is paramount to safe clinical operation. However, there is currently no consensus on the full-time equivalent (FTE) requirements for safe administration of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)-guided oART. This study aimed to quantitatively assess medical physics workload and staffing needs of a CBCT-guided oART program. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We conducted a detailed analysis of the CBCT-guided adaptive planning and treatment workflows, encompassing tasks such as patient consultation, treatment planning, plan review, training, quality assurance, and treatment delivery. Using data from machine logs, clinical database queries, and staff surveys, we present a framework for estimating FTE values for different staffing scenarios, considering medical physicists' roles as planners, adaptors, or both.

resultsFTE calculations, based on an example workload of 100 adaptive and 200 nonadaptive patients per year, for 3 staffing scenarios were provided: medical physicists as planners and adaptors (2.9 FTE), medical physicists as planners but not adaptors (2.6 FTE), and medical physicists as adaptors but not planners (1.4 FTE). These findings offer calculation guidance and benchmarks for staffing requirements in CBCT-guided oART programs, emphasizing the need for specific staffing models to accommodate the complexities of adaptive RT.

conclusionsThis study outlines a framework for calculating FTE requirements for medical physicists in a CBCT-guided oART program. By analyzing the processes for 3 common adaptive RT workflows, this work can provide effective workforce planning and resource allocation estimates. This analysis can be used either before the implementation of an oART program, for program development, or as a review of current practices to ensure operational efficiency and proper staffing levels are maintained.

Indexed as

Cone-Beam Computed TomographyRadiotherapy Planning, Computer-AssistedWorkloadHealth PhysicsHumansRadiotherapy, Image-Guided

Identifiers

PMID39303779
PMCPMC11710968

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.