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Introduction: This survey describes Italian RTTs’ involvement and opinions in research activities related to radiation oncology. Primary aim was to assess the degree of involvement of the national RTTs community in research and to describe how RTTs can integrate their skills collaborating with other professionals. Materials and methods: A ten-items multiple-choice questionnaire, with 2–8 possible responses, was developed by a steering committee and generated on a survey platform. Links were sent via email to Italian RTTs.The questions were divided in 3 domains: demographic data; scientific research and activity; opinions about RTTs role in scientific research. The survey started on October 1, 2018 and ended on January 31, 2019. Results: One hundred thirty-five out of 509 (26.5%) RTTs responded to the questionnaire at its expiring date; 97.73% think to be valid contributors in radiation oncology research, expressing clear interest in “data collection” tasks (52.71%); 38.64% feel unsupported by other professionals in the research team and 59.85% of the respondents are not members in any scientific society. Conclusions: The role of Italian RTTs in research is heterogeneous. Mainly RTTs in the age range from 30 to 40 years responded to the survey showing their interest in scientific research. This might be related to different informatics and educational skills as well as to personal attitudes. RTTs particular skills, like data management and technical hypothesis generation abilities, are of benefit to realize research projects. Therefore, engaging RTTs in research activities is strongly suggested.

Many adolescents and young adults hold erroneous beliefs that cigarillos and waterpipe tobacco (WT) are safer than cigarettes, contributing to use. Communication campaigns can correct misperceptions and increase risk beliefs. We tested point-of-sale (POS) communication campaigns focused on chemical exposure for cigarillos and WT. We conducted two cluster randomized trials at 20 gas stations with convenience stores (10 stores for cigarillos, 10 for WT) in North Carolina between June and November 2017. Within each trial, stores were randomly assigned to either the intervention (campaign messages displayed) or a no message control condition. We conducted intercept surveys with repeated cross-sectional samples of 50 adolescents and young adults (ages 16-25) per store, at baseline and follow-up. There were 978 participants (mean age = 20.9 years) in the cigarillo trial, and 998 participants (mean age = 21.0 years) in the WT trial. Rates of campaign exposure were low (26% for cigarillos; 24.3% for WT). The cigarillo campaign increased knowledge that ammonia is in cigarillo smoke (p

BACKGROUND: This study examines how the North Carolina state prevention system responded to a policy shift from individual-level prevention strategies to environmental strategies from the perspective of the organizations implementing the policy shift. METHODS: We use two data sources. First, we conducted interviews to collect qualitative data from key informants. Second, we used prevention provider agency expenditure data from the year the shift was announced and the following year. RESULTS: The interviews allowed us to identify effective features of policy change implementation in complex systems, such as the need for clear communication and guidance about the policy changes. Our interview and expenditure analyses also underscore variation in the level of guidance and oversight provided by implementing agencies to prevention providers. CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses suggest that more active monitoring and oversight may have facilitated more consistent implementation of the policy shift toward greater use of environmental prevention strategies.

BACKGROUND: We assess the longitudinal associations between marijuana and cigar (little cigars and cigarillos [LCCs] and large cigars) use on subsequent initiation of marijuana and cigar use. METHODS: Data are from a cohort study of 2189 young adults recruited in fall 2010 from 11 colleges in the Southeast. We used discrete-time survival analysis to examine whether ever use of marijuana at baseline (spring 2011, freshman year) predicted initiation of LCCs and large cigars and whether ever use of these cigar products predicted initiation of marijuana use across 10 waves of data collection (2011-2018). RESULTS: The sample was 65.3 % female, 83.6 % White, 5.9 % Hispanic, and 61.8 % had college-educated mothers. At baseline, 70 % reported never using LCCs, 71 % reported never using large cigars, and 74 % reported never using marijuana. Ever use of marijuana at baseline was associated with an increased risk of LCC initiation (Incident rate ratio [IRR] = 1.6, 95 %CI = 1.0, 2.5) but not large cigar initiation. Ever use of LCCs (IRR = 1.4, 95 %CI = 1.1, 1.8) and ever use of large cigars (IRR = 1.3, 95 %CI = 1.1, 1.8) at baseline both predicted initiation of marijuana use. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support growing evidence that marijuana and LCCs are strongly associated and use of one substance predicts use of the other. In contrast to studies of adults, we also found that young adults who have tried large cigars may be at increased risk for subsequent marijuana use. These findings highlight the need to consider each product as a potential gateway of the other when developing interventions for young adults.

We examined whether waterpipe café, vape shop, and traditional tobacco retailer (e.g. stores selling cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco) locations were associated with census tract composition and tobacco use among young adults in North Carolina and Virginia. Methods: We identified waterpipe cafés, vape shops, and traditional tobacco retailers in North Carolina and Virginia and conducted multivariable analyses between community characteristics (gender, race, ethnicity, education, college enrollment, and poverty) and density per 1000 population. Using fall 2017 data from 1099 young adults residing in North Carolina and Virginia, we conducted logistic regression analyses to determine whether tobacco retailer density and proximity were associated with tobacco use. Results: Waterpipe café, vape shop, and traditional retailer density were higher in communities with more people who were Hispanic, college-educated, and college-enrolled (each p < .05). Waterpipe café and traditional retailer density were higher in communities with more people living below the poverty level (each p < .05). Waterpipe café density was higher in communities with more people who were male (p < .05), while traditional retailer density was lower (p < .05). Waterpipe café and vape shop proximity were associated with increased likelihood of waterpipe tobacco use in the past 6 months (each p < .05; unadjusted). Traditional retailer proximity and waterpipe café, vape shop, and traditional retailer density were not associated with tobacco use. Conclusions: Waterpipe cafés and vape shops are located in both impoverished and college-educated communities in North Carolina and Virginia, similar to where traditional tobacco retailers are located. Further research is needed to examine associations with tobacco use.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of message frames (gain vs. loss) and sources (formal expert: a health-care professional vs. informal expert: an individual who successfully quit vaping) on the persuasiveness of TikTok videos among youth who currently use e-cigarettes. Additionally, the study examined how emotional responses and perceived message effectiveness (PME) mediate the framing effect on youth intention to quit vaping. A 2 (gain frame vs. loss frame) × 2 (formal expert vs. informal expert) factorial design experiment was conducted with 378 youth aged 13 to 18 who currently use e-cigarettes. The study measured participant's emotional responses, PME of the messages, and intention to quit vaping after the video exposure. Messages from a formal expert resulted in stronger intention to quit vaping compared to messages from an informal expert. Gain-framed messages were associated with higher PME when delivered by an informal expert, whereas loss-framed messages showed stronger effects on PME from a formal expert. Positive emotional responses and increased PME mediated the relationship between gain-framed messages and youth intention to quit vaping. TikTok could serve as an effective tool for formal experts to promote vaping cessation among youth who use e-cigarettes. Additionally, the findings suggest that gain frames may be more influential than loss frames in promoting vaping cessation among youth, by eliciting positive emotional responses from the audience. The differential impact of message frames depending on source type indicates a nuanced interaction between content and messenger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this study was to explore opportunity costs of postsecondary education in the U.S. in the past three decades (1975-2005), as a measure to support investment decisions at national levels and as experienced by individuals deciding on pursuing further education. Based on human capital theory and inspired by a set of studies aiming at investment decisions in education, official data from the U.S. Census (i.e., CPS), along with parameters for high education achievement, were fed into a forecasting model developed for this purpose. The model included parameters for degree completion rate, time for completion, expectation of working years, retirement age, inflation and interest rates for time value of money adjustments focusing on marginal annual income flows. Seven research hypotheses were tested under this ex post facto design employing elements of both descriptive and causal-comparative research methods. The primary finding is that the postsecondary education opportunity costs for both males and females have been increasing in the analyzed period, along with a significant correlation with enrollment rates. When considering opportunity costs of bachelor's degrees across gender, the trend is somewhat steady. However, in the case of advanced degrees, there appears to be an increase in the absolute gap based on gender in the second half of the analyzed period. Beyond descriptive statistics, trends, and prediction models of opportunity costs for bachelor's or advanced degrees, findings on college premiums and gender differences are discussed in light of the National HRD framework. (Contains 2 tables and 4 graphs.)

This manuscript details an investigation of memorable messages that help students navigate college life using a control theory framework. Researchers conducted face-to-face interviews with 61 undergraduate students who recalled a specific memorable message that helped them as they navigated college. Results of this formative study show the majority of participants' memorable messages were academic, and approximately 70% reported changing their behavior when recalling the message. Findings include categories of messages, challenges and topics, message sources, and changes in behavior and attitudes as a result of recalling the message. Additionally, the authors discuss responses to the study findings by college personnel that highlight the applicability of the research. (Contains 2 tables.)

Copyright of Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The administration of radiotherapy should be encouraged despite the emergency of COVID-19; therefore, our aim is to analyze management and therapeutic interventions to be implemented in a Radiotherapy department to allow patients to continue their treatment and health professionals to continue their work safely. Materials and methods: A Pubmed search was performed, in which all articles specific to Radiotherapy and COVID-19 were included. Those articles that were too specific about the COVID-19, surgery and chemiotherapy, were excluded. Results: 315 articles were selected, of which 35 were about therapeutic strategies and 25 about management strategies. In the first category, 5 articles were about how radiotherapy could be a weapon to be used for COVID-19 positive patients with important lung problems. While 30 articles described priorities and new treatment plans for oncology patients who have to undergo radiotherapy during the pandemic. In the second category, almost all the articles explained how triage can be a preventive and monitoring way against COVID-19 in an operating unit with many patients and professionals, and other articles developed a telemedicine system, too, which allows patients to make scheduled visits without coming to the hospital and also for the staff, who can work remotely. In addition, 5 articles concerning psychological aspects of both patients and health care providers were included. Conclusion: This document can be used as a summary in the coming months/years, during the recovery phase from COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and as a starting point to be used in case of further pandemic break-out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The healthcare system faces critical challenges in recruitment and retention due to increased patient volumes, post-pandemic recovery needs, and a departing experienced workforce. The concept of an 'extern' role, increasingly explored in professions such as nursing, allows healthcare students to take on paid employment in assistive roles in settings relevant to their future profession. The cornerstone of such an initiative is to bridge academic learning with practical clinical support, engaging the future of the workforce in a safe and meaningful way. By leveraging related strategies in medical radiation technology, we can contribute to a sustainable future pipeline for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals. An extern program was piloted at a major urban multi-site medical imaging department beginning in 2022. Over three cohort years, it has explored two types of extern roles (junior and clinical) across three entry-to-practice MRIT disciplines – radiological technology, nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, and ultrasound. In developing roles, compliance with legislative regulations, considerations in defining roles and eligibility criteria, and aligning work commitment with student learning schedules were paramount in informing the program's structure and success. Roles and processes defined for imaging professions could be readily translated to a radiation therapy context given similar legislative and academic oversight and potential supportive practice tasks. Seventy-three candidates applied to related roles and 34 externs were hired. Benefits to the program include substantial engagement in clinical and administrative tasks, facilitation of departmental efficiency, and support for the existing workforce. Specific tasks for clinical externs included supporting staff in patient transfers and positioning, cleaning, and restocking rooms, triaging patients and demands, calling inpatients and coordinating porters, and monitoring patients and schedules. For junior externs, tasks involved record-keeping, curating teaching cases, supporting chart and billing code reviews, and supporting quality control exercises like lead apron testing. Beyond immediate benefit of tasks performed by externs, the program's value in shaping the future of healthcare professions has been recognized, particularly in enhancing student transition into practice and increasing recruitment opportunities for the host site. Staff overtime hours were reduced, and new graduates who had worked as externs were more quickly able to work autonomously following hire. The program was mutually beneficial to existing staff and future professionals, reinforcing the workforce. Future expansion opportunities within medical imaging and into radiation therapy can support a more integrated apprenticeship model that could be standardized between academic programs and employers without sacrificing the higher-level learning achieved through university-based preparation for practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced practice (AP) for medical radiation technologists (MRTs) has not yet found the same traction in medical imaging in Canada as it has in radiation therapy over the past 15 years. This has been attributed informally to differences in professional identity, traditional interprofessional relationships, and practice settings, and lack of dedicated internal champions and concerted efforts to lay related groundwork within the profession. In an effort to mirror the success in radiation therapy while providing a clear example of a systematic approach to exploring evidence-based AP opportunities in the interest of efficient and quality patient care, an exploratory process mapping study was undertaken using the established PEPPA framework at three interrelated breast imaging (BI) clinics at large urban academic hospitals in Toronto, Canada. BI represents a complex multimodality setting with a well-defined role in the healthcare system. BI holds great potential as a setting to consider opportunities to leverage the MRT role to optimize patient-centered service. This study involved three phases; mapping BI processes and workflows, identification and characterization of care delivery problems (CDPs) within these process maps, and prioritization of opportunities where task shifting might engage MRTs to optimize care. The PEPPA framework - a systematic planning tool for AP nursing roles more recently used in radiation therapy in Canada - was used, with the first five of nine steps considered within project scope. Twelve distinct BI processes were mapped; a single clerical workflow and 11 subsequent clinical processes. Each map included swimlanes for MRTs, radiologists, and clerical staff and included processes ranging from routine mammogram and ultrasound orders to stereotactic-guided core biopsies and rapid diagnostic workflows. Across maps, nine CDPs were identified; scheduling, radiologist availability, incorrect orders, and coordination of externally-acquired imaging and consults. Characterization of the root causes of each CDP led to common reflections on team and task factors, including inefficiencies in communication or division of responsibilities, or availability of resources or team members to support workflows. Consultations based on the resultant maps and CDPs led to identification of potential advanced roles for MRTs; review and decision-making relating to imaging acquired externally prior to patient appointments, exam ordering and protocoling in defined scenarios, and task-shifting of certain clinical procedures such as screening ultrasounds and contrast-enhanced mammography. Independent of formal study results, important lessons were gleaned from the response to the academic output of this work. While the study prioritized interprofessional consultation at key intervals, physicians expressed reluctance to consider or pilot identified roles in a subsequent funded project, based on concerns about radiologist commitment to mentoring, impact on radiology trainees, and medicolegal considerations. AP for MRTs holds great potential to address system inefficiencies in BI, if approached systematically and with the primary objective to optimize care. This study in medical imaging followed the lead of similar work in radiation therapy, and while preliminary results indicated opportunities deemed by MRTs to be worth investigating, there remains work to be done to engage radiology colleagues as key stakeholders to define and advance related objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

From December 2019, a novel coronavirus disease named COVID-19 was reported in China. Within 3 months, the World Health Organization defined COVID-19 as a pandemic, with more than 370,000 cases and 16,000 deaths worldwide. In consideration of the crucial role of diagnostic testing during COVID-19, the aim of this technical note was to provide a complete synthesis of approaches implemented for the management of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients. The planning of a robust plan to prevent the transmission of the virus to patients and department staff members should be fundamental in each radiology service. Moreover, the speed of spread and the incidence of the pandemic make it necessary to optimize the use of personal protective devices and dedicated COVID-19 equipment, given the limited availability of supplies. In the management of radiographic and CT imaging, staff should take special precautions to limit contamination between patients and other patients or professionals. An isolated imaging room should be dedicated to suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases, including radiography and CT scanners. This paper will provide guidance concerning disposable protective gear to be utilized, as well as on the cleaning and sanitation of radiology room and equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]