Radiation therapist research capacity and output: a multicentre retrospective study of authorship, collaboration, and institutional strategies (2013-2022).

PURPOSE: Radiation Therapist (RTT) research culture is essential for driving innovation and informing evidence-based practice. This study aimed to assess RTT research output and institutional capacity-building initiatives across international clinical academic cancer centres.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of RTT research activities and capacity-building initiatives from 2013 to 2022 at three centres located in Canada (CA), the Netherlands (NL) and the United Kingdom (UK). Data was collected on research output by identifying all RTT author publications (first, second, or senior author). Institutional capacity-building initiatives were captured from each centre and described using full-time equivalents (FTEs). A qualitative analysis was conducted on all RTT publications to identify common research topics.

RESULTS

Over the 10 years, the total number of RTT-authored publications was 445 across the centres (CA:291; UK:79; NL:75). RTTs as first authors ranged from 14.7 % to 44.3 % and RTTs as senior authors ranged from 0 % to 27.8 % of publications. Centres with increasing FTEs demonstrated increasing research productivity, with publications changing from 21 to 34 in CA and from 3 to 15 in the UK centre. Multidisciplinary collaboration was common among all centres. Prominent RTT research themes included technological applications, RTT professional development and quality assurance, clinical outcomes, dosimetry, and patient care. Common strategies to build research capacity included educational initiatives, the creation of dedicated research roles, and promoting research dissemination.

CONCLUSION

This study highlighted the contributions of RTTs to radiation oncology research and how a comprehensive approach to building research capacity results in high RTT research output and collaboration.