Piloting E-Learning in a Radiation Oncology Department.

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiologic Technology Education

Background:

• Radiation therapy requires continuous professional development for quality patient care.
• E-learning offers a potential alternative to traditional in-person training methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of e-learning versus face-to-face instruction for radiation therapy education.
• To evaluate learning outcomes and efficiency in professional development programs.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study compared two cohorts of radiation therapy educators (RTEs) undergoing professional development year (PDY).
• One cohort received department orientation and treatment planning introduction via traditional face-to-face methods.
• The subsequent cohort received the same programs through an e-learning platform.

Main Results:

• E-learning delivered the same educational content as face-to-face instruction.
• The e-learning format proved more efficient in content delivery.
• Learning outcomes were comparable between the two educational methods.

Conclusions:

• E-learning is a viable and efficient method for radiation therapy in-service education.
• The study suggests e-learning can maintain educational quality while improving efficiency.
• Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these findings.