A qualitative investigation of resilience and well-being among medical physics residents

Clinical physicists' perceptions of weekly chart checks and the potential role for automated image review assessed by structured interviews

BACKGROUND

This study utilizes interviews of clinical medical physicists to investigate self-reported shortcomings of the current weekly chart check workflow and opportunities for improvement.

METHODS

Nineteen medical physicists were recruited for a 30-minute semi-structured interview, with a particular focus placed on image review and the use of automated tools for image review in weekly checks. Survey-type questions were used to gather quantitative information about chart check practices and importance placed on reducing chart check workloads versus increasing chart check effectiveness. Open-ended questions were used to probe respondents about their current weekly chart check workflow, opinions of the value of weekly chart checks and perceived shortcomings, and barriers and facilitators to the implementation of automated chart check tools. Thematic analysis was used to develop common themes across the interviews.

RESULTS

Physicists ranked highly the value of reducing the time spent on weekly chart checks (average 6.3 on a scale from 1 to 10), but placed more value on increasing the effectiveness of checks with an average of 9.2 on a 1-10 scale. Four major themes were identified: (1) weekly chart checks need to adapt to an electronic record-and-verify chart environment, (2) physicists could add value to patient care by analyzing images without duplicating the work done by physicians, (3) greater support for trending analysis is needed in weekly checks, and (4) automation has the potential to increase the value of physics checks.

CONCLUSION

This study identified several key shortcomings of the current weekly chart check process from the perspective of the clinical medical physicist. Our results show strong support for automating components of the weekly check workflow in order to allow for more effective checks that emphasize follow-up, trending, failure modes and effects analysis, and allow time to be spent on other higher value tasks that improve patient safety.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion topics at a medical physics residency journal club

A journal club program was initiated in a clinically focused, geographically distributed medical physics therapy residency program. This program currently supports two residents at different clinical sites, who regularly present at the new journal club. For one of the sessions, residents were assigned to present on topics related to the broad themes of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the context of medical physics, radiation oncology, or medical oncology. As in other journal club sessions, residents were responsible for choosing their respective articles within required criteria and with approval from the program director. The session was executed in late 2022, with both residents leading and facilitating discussion for the residents, the residency program director, and all residency faculty members. This education case report will include the learning objectives for the journal club session, a description of the content covered in the session, discussion regarding the session's alignment with the original learning objectives, and ideas for program directors intending to include evidence-based EDI topics in journal clubs.

Gender-Based Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in Medical Physics

PURPOSE

Gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment have been well-studied in the fields of science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine. However, less is known about these topics and their effect within the profession of medical physics. We aimed to better understand and clarify the views and experiences of practicing medical physicists and medical physics residents regarding gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We conducted in-depth, semistructured, and confidential interviews with 32 practicing medical physicists and medical physics residents across the United States. The interviews were broad and covered the topics of discrimination, mentorship, and work/life integration. All participants were associated with a department with a residency program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs and had appointments with a clinical component.

RESULTS

Participants shared views about gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment that were polarized. Some perceived that discrimination and harassment were a current concern within medical physics, while some either perceived that they were not a concern or that discrimination positively affected women and minoritized populations. Many participants shared personal experiences of discrimination and harassment, including those related to unequal compensation, discrimination against mothers, discrimination during the hiring process, gender-biased assumptions about behaviors or goals, communication biases, and overt and persistent sexual harassment.

CONCLUSIONS

There is an urgent need to acknowledge, better understand, and address gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment in the field of medical physics.