Staffing Levels and Workload for Radiation Therapists in Canada

Area of Science:

• Radiation Oncology
• Healthcare Management
• Health Workforce Research

Background:

• Safe radiation therapy delivery relies on adequate oncology professional staffing.
• Current general recommendations for radiation therapist (RT) staffing lack detail, and Canada lacks national standards.
• There is limited data on Canadian RT staffing models, levels, and associated workloads.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and compare RT staffing models used in Canadian radiation treatment centres.
• To analyze the resulting staffing levels and workloads for RTs across Canada.
• To investigate factors influencing RT staffing and workload variations.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed in January 2016 to managers of 46 Canadian radiation treatment centres.
• Data collected covered staffing models, levels, workload, and other practice variables for fiscal year 2014/2015.
• Respondents provided information to calculate staffing levels and workload, enabling comparison of centres and influencing variables.

Main Results:

• 37 out of 46 centres (80.4% response rate) responded to the survey.
• Significant variation exists in RT staffing models and workload across Canada; 17 centres used historical levels/funds, while 20 incorporated workload measurement.
• RT staffing levels at most Canadian centres are below recommended levels, with workloads varying twofold between centres, unexplained by practice differences.

Conclusions:

• Considerable variability in RT staffing levels and workload exists in Canada, not attributable to practice variations.
• Workload for RTs may exceed safe limits in some Canadian centres.
• Implementing up-to-date staffing models and regular reviews is recommended for Canadian radiation treatment centres.