Communication: Preparing undergraduate radiation therapy students for initial clinical patient interactions

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Radiation Therapy
• Clinical Skills Training

Background:

• Radiation therapy students require strong communication skills for clinical practice.
• Preparation for initial clinical placements is crucial for student success.
• A dedicated module was developed to bridge the gap between academic learning and clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a clinical reasoning module designed for radiation therapy students.
• To evaluate student perceptions of the module's usefulness and impact on communication skills.
• To identify key learning outcomes and areas of perceived benefit.

Main Methods:

• The module incorporated lectures, observational, and participatory role-play sessions.
• Students practiced providing information to simulated patients (SPs).
• Feedback was gathered from SPs, peers, and facilitators, followed by an anonymous survey.

Main Results:

• A high response rate (93%) from 437 students indicated module usefulness.
• Despite initial anxiety, most students found the module extremely/very useful.
• Simulated patient feedback was rated as the most valuable component, highlighting understanding of the radiation therapist role and patient interaction complexities.

Conclusions:

• The module successfully enhanced students' clinical knowledge and empathy towards patients.
• Collaborative critiquing fostered self-reflection and improved clinical interaction abilities.
• The program is effective in preparing radiation therapy students for clinical environments.