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Department of Medical Physics, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznan, PolandDepartment of Electroradiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
Department of Radiotherapy Physics, University College London Hospital London, UKDepartment of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University College London, UKMedical Physics Department, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
The 3rd ESTRO-EFOMP core curriculum (CC) for Medical Physics Experts (MPE) in radiotherapy is presented.
•
The CanMED competencies for MPE are introduced as a core part of the updated CC.
•
Recommendations for the pre-education and the MPE training programme are provided.
•
The CC allows for adaptation to each EU country needs while maintaining a high-level education for MPE.
•
The CC can contribute to further harmonization of MPE training in Europe.
Abstract
Purpose
To update the 2011 ESTRO-EFOMP core curriculum (CC) for education and training of medical physics experts (MPE)s working in radiotherapy (RT), in line with recent EU guidelines, and to provide a framework for European countries to develop their own curriculum.
Material and methods
Since September 2019, 27 European MPEs representing ESTRO, EFOMP and National Societies, with expertise covering all subfields of RT physics, have revised the CC for recent advances in RT. The ESTRO and EFOMP Education Councils, all European National Societies and international stakeholders have been involved in the revision process.
Results
A 4-year training period has been proposed, with a total of 240 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System).
Training entrance levels have been defined ensuring the necessary physics and mathematics background. The concept of competency-based education has been reinforced by introducing the CanMEDS role framework. The updated CC includes (ablative) stereotactic-, MR-guided- and adaptive RT, particle therapy, advanced automation, complex quantitative data analysis (big data/artificial intelligence), use of biological images, and personalized treatments. Due to the continuously increasing RT complexity, more emphasis has been given to quality management. Clear requirements for a research project ensure a proper preparation of MPE residents for their central role in science and innovation in RT.
Conclusion
This updated, 3rd edition of the CC provides an MPE training framework for safe and effective practice of modern RT, while acknowledging the significant efforts needed in some countries to reach this level. The CC can contribute to further harmonization of MPE training in Europe.
Radiotherapy (RT) is a highly technical therapeutic approach to treat mostly cancer patients with ionising radiation. An appropriately trained multidisciplinary team, including radiation oncologists, medical physicists, RT technicians/radiation therapists/radiographers and oncology nurses, has the responsibility to ensure a safe and effective treatment for all patients. As a scientist trained in physics and specialized in medical physics, the medical physicist has a unique role in this multidisciplinary team [
]. The training of medical physicists in RT covers, beside physics topics, also medical, radiobiological, information technology and managerial aspects of RT.
The medical physicist in RT has three main responsibilities: (1) leading physics aspects of RT (including choice, commissioning and management of equipment, treatment planning, quality assurance, imaging, patient-specific dosimetry and radiation protection), (2) training of personnel, and (3) research and innovation. The medical physicist can also be involved in consultations with patients and their families on physics related topics, as described in Table 1.
Table 1CanMED framework adapted to Medical Physics Experts.
General competences
Communicator
Communicate efficiently with peers, other healthcare professionals, hospital management, National Competent Authorities, service engineers, IT personnel. Communication with patients and families is also increasingly required
Collaborator
Effectively collaborate with other healthcare professionals in order to provide safe, high quality, patient-centred care
Leader
Take leadership in all physics and technical issues related to safe, effective and efficient delivery of RT. Motivate staff and build teams
Health advocate
Participate in patient advocacy by preparing, producing and presenting well-researched and evidenced based reports regarding advances in RT technology, techniques and radiation safety
Scholar
Engage in life-long learning through a continuing professional plan Contribute to the application, dissemination, translation, and creation of knowledge and practices applicable to health care
Professional
MPEs are committed to the health and well-being of patients and society through high professional standards, integrity and governmental regulation
The European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) and the European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics (EFOMP) have a longstanding commitment to improve and harmonize clinical practice, science, education, and training of medical physics professionals. In 2004, ESTRO and EFOMP issued joint guidelines for the education and training of medical physicists within RT [
]. These guidelines aimed to provide both theoretical and practical requirements for education and training of medical physicists in RT. The document focused on skills and knowledge required to safely and effectively act as a medical physicist in a RT team. The 2nd edition of the CC, established in 2011 [
Recommendation of the European parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 on the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning. Official Journal of the European Union, C 111/1, 6. 5. 2008.
] in which learning outcomes were defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competences. Since the publication of the 2011 core curriculum (CC), demands on knowledge, skills and competencies of medical physicists have increased due to the large increases in technological complexity of radiation equipment and treatments, and the resulting high demand on quality and risk management.
This current revised CC for MPEs in RT arises from a need to update the education and training requirements to accommodate the MPE competency needs in modern RT in the 2020′s and to facilitate the further harmonization of national education schemes in Europe.
In line with the latest EC guidelines and following the EC Council directive 2013/59/EURATOM [
], a Medical Physics Expert (MPE) is defined as a Medical Physicist who has reached EQF level 8 in one or more chosen specialities of clinical Medical Physics and can therefore independently practice Medical Physics in health care. It should be noticed that only the term “MPE” appears in European documents [
Towards an updated ESTRO-EFOMP core curriculum for education and training of Medical Physics Experts in Radiotherapy – Assessment of current training practice in Europe.
]. Therefore, in this document we refer to the education and training for MPE status in RT.
The revised CC aims to provide a common standard and framework for the training of the MPE in RT to guide the development of a national MPE core curriculum with the final goal of elevating and harmonizing the level of education and training of the MPE in RT across Europe, thus facilitating cross-border mobility of the MPE, in the same way as it is for the radiation oncologists.
In this paper we report on the update process, the major changes introduced in the updated CC and the recommendations of the working group regarding implementation.
Material and methods
In September 2019, the ESTRO Physics Committee and EFOMP created a working group to update the CC for training of MPEs in RT, which met at the ESTRO office in Brussels. All European Medical Physics National Societies (NS) were invited to identify a representative to participate. The group included representatives of 17 NS, and members of the ESTRO physics committee (chair and members of the Education Council), of the Young ESTRO Committee, and of the EFOMP Professional Matters, Education & Training, Science, and European Matters Committees, representing in total 19 European countries. During this first meeting, it was agreed to launch a survey on the current education and training for MPEs in Europe, focusing, in particular, on the existence of a national training scheme, its format and duration, required entry-level education and financial support for trainees [
Towards an updated ESTRO-EFOMP core curriculum for education and training of Medical Physics Experts in Radiotherapy – Assessment of current training practice in Europe.
]. Additionally, presentations were given on national curricula of countries in which the process of updating the educational program was ongoing. A total of 28 involved Medical Physicists were divided into five working groups, each with a coordinator, according to their specific expertise. Each working group reviewed different sections of the 2011 2nd edition of the CC, identifying the areas that required revision. A second meeting was organized in Brussels in February 2020 to discuss the results of the survey and to define the final structure of the document. A first draft was developed considering:
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the 2011 2nd edition of the ESTRO-EFOMP Core Curriculum [
The first draft was reviewed by the ESTRO Educational Council to include considerations from all other RT professionals (Radiation Oncologists, Radiation Therapists, and Radiobiologists). All 36 National Member Organisations (NMOs) belonging to EFOMP were involved in two review rounds, and the final draft was then additionally reviewed by international stakeholders worldwide (American Association of Physicists in Medicine, Australian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine, Association of Medical Physics of India, Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs, Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists, Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine, International Atomic Energy Agency).
Results
The final version of the 3rd edition of the ESTRO/EFOMP Core Curriculum for Medical Physics Experts in Radiotherapy is available in the Electronic Appendix, and has been endorsed by 34 of 36 NMOs in the EFOMP registry. The remaining 2 NMOs have not replied yet: with one of them not even replying to our invitation to the revision process, suggesting a lack of interest in this project.
The document is structured in five chapters:
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Recommendations for the MPE qualification framework in Europe, including minimum entrance level, education, residency, and certification.
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General MPE competences. CanMED roles framework adapted to MPE.
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Content-specific MPE knowledge, skills and competences.
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Research and innovation.
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Assessment methods to evaluate competences.
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Recommendations for the MPE qualification framework in Europe.
In the first chapter, recommendations on the pre-education and the MPE training programme are provided.
It is proposed to integrate the CC in the Qualification Framework for MPEs in Europe as summarized in Fig. 1, in agreement with the EC guidelines RP174 [
] and in line with developments in the field. The minimum education level to enter the MPE training program should be a BSc degree, predominantly in physics, followed by an MSc degree in Physics or Medical Physics (BSc + MSc including in total at least 180 ECTS [
] focused on fundamental physics and mathematics). It is understood that a candidate with these qualifications would also have a solid basis in computing and programming skills.
Fig. 1Qualification Framework for the Medical Physics Expert (MPE) in Europe, as proposed in the updated CC. The proposed CC covers the second box for the RT subspecialty.
The knowledge, skills and competences described in the CC may, depending also on their nature, be obtained by attending courses at the university/conferences, performing self-directed study, performing clinical projects and hands-on training in the hospital, intertwining the theoretical and the practical parts of the training. The minimum time to be spent on each specific topic of the content-specific MPE knowledge, skills and competences has been defined in terms of ECTS. The recommended total duration of training is 4 years (240 ECTS), as shown in Table 2, compared to 160 of the 2011 CC.
Table 2Minimum number of ECTS for the different topics.
Specific MPE physics knowledge, skills and competencies
ECTS
III.1. Fundamentals of human anatomy, images of anatomy and physiology
2
III.2. Fundamentals of oncology and multimodal treatment
2
III.3. Core radiation physics
2
III.4. Radiobiology and radiobiological models
4
III.5. Radiation protection in medicine
5
III.6. Risk management, quality control and safety in the medical environment
5
III.7. Organisation, management and ethical issues in health care
3
III.8. Information and communication technology
4
III.9. Data processing, statistics, modelling and artificial intelligence
8
III.10. Dose determination
III.10.1 Reference dosimetry
15
III.10.2 Non-reference dosimetry
10
III.11. Imaging for radiotherapy
III.11.1 Principles of medical imaging and image handling
15
III.11.2 Imaging for treatment simulation
5
III.11.3 In-room imaging for set-up verification and on-line adaptive RT
5
III.12. External beam radiotherapy with photons and electrons
III.12.1 Clinical use of treatment equipment
6
III.12.2 Treatment techniques for high energy electron and photon beams
10
III.12.3 Treatment planning
15
III.12.4 Techniques for managing geometrical and anatomical uncertainties and variations (margins, IGRT, ART)
6
III.12.5 Patient-specific quality assurance
6
III.13. Brachytherapy
12
III.14. Particle therapy
8
III.15. Principles of unsealed source therapy
2
IV. Research and innovation in radiotherapy
30
Deepen knowledge from this CC and/or additional topics from the CC of Medical Physicists in Nuclear Medicine and/or in Radiology
Curriculum for education and training of medical physicists in nuclear medicine: recommendations from the EANM Physics Committee, the EANM Dosimetry Committee and EFOMP.
The general MPE competences and large parts of content-specific MPE knowledge, skills and competences (chapters 2 and 3) are also relevant for training in the other Medical Physics subspecialties (Radiology and Nuclear Medicine). In addition, the Research and innovation chapter (4) represents an important part of the CC and could have links to another sub-speciality, but should be co-supervised by an MPE in RT. Out of the total 240 ECTS, 115 are specific to RT, 65 can be considered as common for all sub-specialities and 60 ECTS of the training period are not allocated to any specific topic in the present CC. These 60 ECTS should be spent gaining a deeper knowledge of topics in this CC in addition to the minimum requirements (e.g., topics that are particularly important for the country of training), or on Radiology or Nuclear Medicine subjects from the corresponding CCs [
Recommendation of the European parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 on the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning. Official Journal of the European Union, C 111/1, 6. 5. 2008. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32008H0506(01)&from=EN.
Curriculum for education and training of medical physicists in nuclear medicine: recommendations from the EANM Physics Committee, the EANM Dosimetry Committee and EFOMP.
]. In addition, the total of 240 ECTs is necessary to develop required general MPE competences (Chapter 2).
The 4-year period of the postgraduate MPE training is required to obtain the competences to become an independent specialist, in accordance with the CanMEDS-based CC for Radiation Oncologists [
]. Hospitals, universities, or healthcare facilities that provide MPE training should be accredited by an official competent authority. The competent authority should have oversight of all training in the country, should regularly ensure that the MPE training is appropriate and provide a mechanism for registering and approving continual professional development [
Partnerships between public and private RT institutions, to ensure a homogenous education and training across the country, should be developed. Moreover, mobility of trainees to meet the requirements of the training in specific topics that cannot be performed in their own centre should be encouraged. The trainee should be appointed as a paid resident for the full training period.
After the training period, the resident should obtain the national MPE certificate, based on objective assessment of completion of a training program that fulfils the national guidelines. After certification, the MPE is expected to be able to independently work as a radiotherapy professional, while continuing professional development after the 4-year training, following European guidelines [
] is mandatory. Continuous education is recognized as an important part of the Qualification Framework for the MPE in Europe but details of its implementation and content are out of scope of the CC.
*
General MPE competences
The concept of competency-based education was reinforced with respect to the previous CC edition, introducing the CanMEDS role framework to align the MPE training with the highest professional training level. As a member of a multi-disciplinary team working closely together to provide safe and effective treatments to patients, the MPE requires a broad spectrum of general competences, in line with the CanMEDS roles. The six CanMEDS roles are integrated in the role of MPE as described in Table 1.
*
Content-specific MPE knowledge, skills and competences
The format of the 2011 curriculum was kept for each topic, with a short introduction to describe the area of interest, followed by a list of different levels of competences, a list of detailed items, and a list of updated recommended literature. However, differently from the previous edition, four different levels of competences, which the trainee needs to develop with an increasing level of proficiency, have been defined and are reported in Table 3. The applied core list of verbs was defined in collaboration with the educational specialist involved in development of the Radiation Oncologists’ CC [
Topic: Data processing, statistics, modelling and artificial intelligence
Expert competences
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Analyse, interpret and report experimental results, including uncertainties
•
Applyfundamental concepts of statistics relevant for data analysis in radiotherapy
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Differentiate, choose and applythe most common statistical tools used in RT physics and clinical RT in a common software platform like Python, R, Matlab, SPSS, etc.
•
Applyregulations on data collection, processing and application in practice
•
PerformQA of AI/machine learning models
Collaborative competences
•
Statethe principles of (big) data collection, storage and handling of data
•
Describethe working principles and training of major statistical modelling approaches and algorithms applied in RT (including radiomics, AI, etc.), needed for ensuring safe and effective clinical application
•
Givethe major pitfalls in the training, validation and use of statistical modelling approaches in RT and ability of coping with them
•
Describethe basic principles of statistics for clinical trial design, cohort and case-control studies
Contributive competences
•
Co-leaddepartmental acquisitions of RT software applications that rely on complex statistical data handling, based on the specific expertise
The most recent advances in RT Medical Physics, such as (ablative) stereotactic and adaptive RT, MR-guided RT, wider use of particle therapy, advanced automation for crucial workflow components like contouring and planning, complex quantitative data analysis (big data/artificial intelligence), biological imaging and personalized treatments that require integration of imaging with clinical, genetic and biological data, were introduced or expanded. The basic knowledge of ultra-high dose rate radiotherapy was introduced as well. Since the complexity of the RT process continues to increase, more emphasis has been given to quality management, as one of the MPE main responsibilities. Computing and programming skills are implicitly required to reach the expert competences on data processing, statistics, modelling and artificial intelligence.
*
Research and innovation
The high rate of technological development in RT also comes with an increasing need for MPE to have high-level training in research and innovation. A focused research project of 30 ECTS, performed under the guidance of a supervisor with extensive expertise in the chosen topic, is therefore an integral part of the training programme and should result in a written report.
*
Assessment methods to evaluate competences
In this chapter, different methods adapted from the “CanMEDS Assessment Tools Handbook” [
] have been proposed to assess the competences. The different components of a possible assessment scheme must, however, be adapted according to the national education and training programme. Table 5 shows an example of methods to develop the competences during the learning phase and methods to assess the competences during the examination.
Table 5Example of methods to develop the competences during the learning phase and methods to assess the competences during the examination.
Quality assurance
Learning phase
Examination
Theoretical course with exercises
Supervised practical training
Independent study (homework)
Written test
Oral
Portfolio/logbook
report
Describe and apply Quality Systems in Radiotherapy
X
X
X
X
Build a process chart
X
X
X
X
Analyse and apply different methodologies for prospective and retrospective risk management
This paper introduces the updated 3rd version of the ESTRO-EFOMP core curriculum for MPE in RT and the process through which it was updated. This new version reflects the development of the profession towards new advanced technologies with a related enhanced attention for quality management, but also an increased weight on interdisciplinary and clinical skills, and on research and innovation.
To harmonize the training of MPEs throughout Europe, there is an urgent need to define the entrance level, i.e. the minimum number of years, format and content of postgraduate training to become an MPE.
The entrance level for training should consist of a solid base in physics and mathematics. Given the diversity of content and denomination degrees for physics and related sciences in Europe [
Towards an updated ESTRO-EFOMP core curriculum for education and training of Medical Physics Experts in Radiotherapy – Assessment of current training practice in Europe.
], the requirements for entrance level were defined based on the number of ECTS in physics and mathematics for a combined BSc/MSc degree. Although there is a variation in the definition of ECTS across Europe, this describes clearly, but flexibly, a strong physics and mathematics background.
The proposed 4-year education and training programme is a complete description of knowledge, skills and competences required to be certified as an MPE in RT, although there may be some overlap with a previous MSc program. The proposed competency profile defines competences for the MPE profession as a whole. However, individual competency development in the training may somewhat vary, depending on the specific details of the clinical practice or needs in a country or region, acknowledging that not all MPEs will necessarily possess all competences to the same degree but will pursue this as part of lifelong learning [
] formalizes additional clinical skills and perspectives thus bringing the MPE professionals in line with their medical colleagues and more clearly defining the medical physics profession as a healthcare profession. This competence-based CC can easily be translated to a list of deliverables as preferred by several national training schemes.
The elements of the updated CC are in line with the recently updated CC developed by ESTRO for education and training of radiation oncologists [
The CC revision process required extensive discussions in the working group and with NS due to the current significant differences between the various European countries in terms of the status of the education, training programs, national legislation and availability of resources. Hence, rather than proposing a set of requirements that would have been much easier to achieve, we have been ambitious and developed a CC with not only a long-term vision, but also bearing in mind the need to harmonize the education and training of MPEs in Europe at a higher level than was previously achieved.
The recommended qualification framework for MPE in RT deviates significantly from the current situation in many European countries [
Towards an updated ESTRO-EFOMP core curriculum for education and training of Medical Physics Experts in Radiotherapy – Assessment of current training practice in Europe.
] where the median period is three years with 50% of the time fully dedicated to RT. Nevertheless, with the increasing technological complexity of RT and medical physics in general, and greater demands on quality and risk management, the current median of three years of training with 50% of RT is too short to achieve the required competences. The enhanced technological complexity of modern RT also requires a high-level training of the MPE in research and innovation. Thus, the current average of three years is too short to cover all the areas in which the MPE should be trained, and a 4 years program is considered essential by CC group members, National Societies and stakeholders.
As MPEs in RT have a crucial clinical role, at least 50%, but preferably 75%, of the program should be spent in a hospital to acquire competences and skills that are most relevant to clinical work. This aligns with the current practice in Europe where the median percentage of time spent training in a hospital is current 75% [
Towards an updated ESTRO-EFOMP core curriculum for education and training of Medical Physics Experts in Radiotherapy – Assessment of current training practice in Europe.
]. Following this structure, the trainees will contribute to daily clinical work, under the supervision of an MPE, performing their tasks with an increasing level of independence. Moreover, the trainees can concentrate for a certain period of the training on specific topics, resulting beneficial for the hospital.
The high level of qualifications required to enter the training, combined with the intensive level of training for a period as long as 4 years demands that the residency (academic education and hospital training) be paid, in the same way as trainees in other medical disciplines.
The updated CC provides an MPE training framework for safe and effective practice of modern RT, while acknowledging the considerable efforts needed in some countries to reach this level.
The MPE training defined in this 3rd edition of the CC is intended as a goal that all European countries would aim to achieve in the near future, with the objective of improving the quality of education and training of MPEs and moving towards a harmonization of the level of MPE across Europe, which will contribute to raising the quality of RT treatment for the benefit of all European patients, in line with EU guidelines.
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge:
- Chiara Gasparotto, Viviane Van Egten, Valérie Cremades and Simone De Ioanna of the ESTRO office for their efficient assistance through all the revision process;
- the ESTRO Educational Council, European National Societies of Medical Physicists and international stakeholders (AAPM – American Association of Physicists in Medicine, ACPSEM – Australian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine, AMPI – Association of Medical Physics of India, CAMPEC – Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs, COMP – Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists, CCPM – Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine, IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency) for critical revision of the document.
Appendix A. Supplementary data
The following are the Supplementary data to this article:
Recommendation of the European parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 on the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning. Official Journal of the European Union, C 111/1, 6. 5. 2008.
Towards an updated ESTRO-EFOMP core curriculum for education and training of Medical Physics Experts in Radiotherapy – Assessment of current training practice in Europe.
Recommendation of the European parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 on the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning. Official Journal of the European Union, C 111/1, 6. 5. 2008. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32008H0506(01)&from=EN.
Curriculum for education and training of medical physicists in nuclear medicine: recommendations from the EANM Physics Committee, the EANM Dosimetry Committee and EFOMP.
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