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Title: | Radiation therapist research in Africa: overcoming the barriers to reap the rewards | Authors: | Engel-Hills, Penelope | Keywords: | radiation oncology;resource-poor environment;research agenda;technologist | Issue Date: | 2009 | Publisher: | Cambridge University Press | Source: | Engel-Hills, P. C. 2009. Radiation therapist research in Africa: overcoming the barriers to reap the rewards. Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice, 8(2): 93-98. [http://doi.org/10.1017/S1460396908006547] | Journal: | Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice | Abstract: | Radiation therapy is recognised throughout the world as an essential modality in the treatment of many malignant diseases. A quality treatment process requires highly competent health care profes- sionals and high-technology equipment. In the majority of countries in Africa there is a desperate need for equipment and skilled therapists and in many countries there is no access to radiation therapy to relieve the suffering of cancer patients. As a region, Africa can therefore be considered as ’under resourced’ in terms of radiation oncology services. In this context both service and research are challenged by a lack of equipment, poor maintenance, inadequate funding, inconsistent consumable supplies, a scarcity of competent professionals to ensure optimal use of what is available and excessive workload. Africa therefore has many examples of the situation, where low-income countries generally have a poor research infrastructure. Radiation therapist (RTT) research in Africa has to develop where the barriers to research can in most instances be traced back to a lack of resources and any initiatives to overcome these barriers are frequently blocked by the limitations of a resource-poor environment. To locate the discussion on the research environment of RTTs in Africa, barriers to and benefits of research are integrated with brief information under the following headings: the macro environment, the RTT environment and the RTT research environment. The latter includes insights from interviews and dis- cussions covering the following topics: research now, research priorities, research opportunities and strategies for future research. | URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11189/7292 | ISSN: | 1467-1131 | DOI: | http://doi.org/10.1017/S1460396908006547 |
Appears in Collections: | HWSci - Journal Articles (DHET subsidised) |
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