Employing positive psychology to improve radiation therapy workplace culture

Integration of art and technology in personalized radiation oncology care: Experiences, evidence, and perspectives

Cancer diagnoses expose patients to traumatic stress, sudden changes in daily life, changes in the body and autonomy, with even long-term consequences, and in some cases, to come to terms with the end-of-life. Furthermore, rising survival rates underline that the need for interventions for emotional wellbeing is in growing demand by patients and survivors. Cancer patients frequently have compliance problems, difficulties during treatment, stress, or challenges in implementing healthy behaviors. This scenario was highlighted during the COVID-19 emergency. These issues often do not reach the clinical attention of dedicated professionals and could also become a source of stress or burnout for professionals. So, these consequences are evident on individual, interpersonal, and health system levels. Oncology services have increasingly sought to provide value-based health care, considering resources invested, with implications for service delivery and related financing mechanisms. Value-based health care can improve patient outcomes, often revealed by patient outcome measures while seeking balance with economical budgets. The paper aims to show the Gemelli Advanced Radiation Therapy (ART) experience of personalizing the patients' care pathway through interventions based on technologies and art, the personalized approach to cancer patients and their role as "co-stars" in treatment care. The paper describes the vision, experiences, and evidence that have guided clinical choices involving patients and professionals in a co-constructed therapeutic pathway. We will explore this approach by describing: the various initiatives already implemented and prospects, with particular attention to the economic sustainability of the paths proposed to patients; the several pathways of personalized care, both from the patient's and healthcare professional perspective, that put the person's experience at the Gemelli ART Center. The patient's satisfaction with the treatment and economic outcomes have been considered. The experiences and future perspectives described in the manuscript will focus on the value of people's experiences and patient satisfaction indicators, patients, staff, and the healthcare organization.

A radiotherapy staff experience of gratitude during COVID-19 pandemic

• Medical staff from oncology units are at high risk of burnout during COVID-19 pandemic. • The sense of belonging to the group and the contacting emotions play a central role in reducing these risks. • Gratitude is related to well-involving people who practice and receive it. • During lockdown, we adopted gratitude-focused “inter-group contact” tool.

Provision of a consistent national approach to radiation therapy workforce protection measures in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic

Healthcare workers are at the frontline managing COVID-19 patients with transmission of the COVID-19 virus to healthcare workers evident in many Australian states. Minimisation of this spread is vital to protecting the healthcare workforce with individual organisations detailing best practice for infection and control. However, interpretation and implementation of infection control guidelines is varied across Australian Radiation Therapy Departments, highlighting inconsistencies. Strong leadership, quality communication and clear direction is required during this crisis to ensure that radiation therapists receive all necessary support and resources required to maintain safety and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Employing positive psychology to improve radiation therapy workplace culture

The Australian radiotherapy profession is challenged by job dissatisfaction, stress, burnout and unfavourable attrition. This paper will use psychological models to discuss the confluence of job demands, resources and personal characteristics that contribute to these challenges. Factors contributing to burnout and attrition amongst Australian Radiation Therapists will be explored, and a number of leadership strategies will be introduced to improve workplace culture. These strategies – aligned with positive psychology – seek to address staff engagement, emotional needs, and job stressors.