Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/11189/7292
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)

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
Radiation therapist research in Africa.pdf74.6 kBAdobe PDFView/Open
Show full item record

Page view(s)

24
checked on Feb 9, 2021

Download(s)

2
checked on Feb 9, 2021

Google ScholarTM

Check

Altmetric


Items in Digital Knowledge are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.