Personality preferences for radiation therapy students in New Zealand

This study investigated the learning styles and personality preferences of undergraduate Bachelor of Radiation Therapy (BRT) students at the University of Otago, Wellington in New Zealand from 2014 to 2018. The implications of these findings for radiation therapy education and the profession were also explored.

All students enrolled in the first year of the BRT degree during this time were invited to participate in the research. The test tool was the Paragon Learning Style Inventory (PLSI), which is a standardised questionnaire adapted from the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). All students who participated in the workshops consented for their data to be used for this project.

The BRT student participants (n = 130) were more likely to have a preference for Introversion and/or Judging in their personality and learning style profiles, relative to the population norms. No statistically significant preferences were present in the Thinking/Feeling, or Sensing/Intuition dichotomies relative to the norms given with respect to published MBTI data.

The study has indicated that the students currently studying radiation therapy at the University of Otago exhibit learning style and personality preferences that are well suited to radiation therapy clinical practice. However, some deficits could compromise a balanced professional profile, teamwork and future professional development.

RT students are likely to show particular characteristics when stressed, anxious or fatigued that may compromise classroom and clinical dynamics. The integration of peer group supervision to the BRT has the potential to help students reflect on their feelings, develop solutions and improve their clinical practice.