TT31-A Web-based Training Tool Developed at Stanford

A.L. Boyer
Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-5487, USA

The goal of this project is to develop and assess an internationally available web-based training tool for medical physicists. As the practice of radiation oncology integrates more advance computer technology, the need has accelerated for trained medical physicists skilled at utilizing this new technology. There is an apparent need to train medical physicists in the growing and maturing radiation oncology network in China.  However, there is a shortage of mentors with time to devote to training outside their clinical duties. This shortage of trained specialists is stalling the implementation of technically advanced radiotherapy in China. The tool will consist of up to 24 course modules accessible over the internet.  Each module will consist of up to 30 training sessions equivalent to conventional lectures.  Each of the training sessions will consist of approximately 20 HTML pages in a path followed by approximately 20 self-test quiz questions.  Each module will be preceded by a pre-quiz consisting of approximately 20 questions, and will end with a final exam consisting of another approximately 50 questions.  This content will be transferred for the most part from a parallel project to develop web-basted training for medical dosimetrists in the United States.  This program will be supported by voluntary efforts by the Asian and Oceanic Affairs Subcommittee of the International Affairs Committee of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM). Individual members of the subcommittee will contribute to the task reviewing the CAI modules. Sessions held at the Chengdu meeting will be used to identify a network of facilities in China that have the resources and interest in participating.  Dr. Boyer will continue to work through the AAPM Asian and Oceanic Affairs Subcommittee to foster the use of the tool by mentors and training programs around China.  The development of this web-based training tool will provide a needed service to the radiation oncology sector of the Chinese national health system by developing a flexible, curriculum-driven program aimed at developing and sustaining an innovative educational approach that ultimately will have an impact on reducing cancer incidence, mortality and morbidity, as well as on improving the quality of life of cancer patients.  The annual infusion of an adequate number of well-trained medical physicists into the radiation oncology work force in China will constitute a significant contribution to improvement of health of its citizens.