Evaluating VERT as a radiotherapy plan evaluation tool: comparison with treatment planning software

Bridge, P ORCID: 0000-0001-7704-9812, Kirby, MC ORCID: 0000-0001-9765-5641 and Callender, JA ORCID: 0000-0003-2230-0613 (2019) Evaluating VERT as a radiotherapy plan evaluation tool: comparison with treatment planning software. Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice. 1 - 5.

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Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec id="S1460396919000797_as1"><jats:title>Introduction:</jats:title><jats:p>The virtual environment for radiotherapy training (VERT) helps students to gain technical skills and understanding of 3D anatomy and dosimetry. It has potential as a tool for treatment plan evaluation, although little formal evidence currently supports this.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S1460396919000797_as2"><jats:title>Aim:</jats:title><jats:p>This paper reports findings from a plan evaluation workshop that facilitated comparison of VERT plan evaluation tools with those provided by conventional treatment planning software (TPS).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S1460396919000797_as3"><jats:title>Method:</jats:title><jats:p>Students on a pre-registration Post-Graduate Diploma in Radiotherapy worked in small groups evaluating lung plans using both VERT and Eclipse TPS tools. All students were invited to provide ratings concerning how helpful each modality was for a range of evaluation parameters and preferences for use.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S1460396919000797_as4"><jats:title>Results:</jats:title><jats:p>Most students (11 out of 14) found the session useful and expressed a desire to use VERT in future plan evaluation. The TPS was perceived to be more helpful with constraint-based evaluation while VERT was more helpful with evaluating plans for clinical set-up and delivery (<jats:italic>p</jats:italic> &amp;lt; 0·001).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S1460396919000797_as5"><jats:title>Conclusion:</jats:title><jats:p>Student therapeutic radiographers found VERT to be helpful as a plan evaluation tool alongside standard TPS tools, in particular for clinical set-up and delivery aspects of planning. Future work is ongoing to identify the specific impact of VERT as a plan evaluation tool for both students and qualified planners.</jats:p></jats:sec>

Item Type:	Article
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	26 Nov 2019 09:53
Last Modified:	19 Jan 2023 00:19
DOI:	10.1017/s1460396919000797
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3063465

Available Versions of this Item

• Evaluating VERT as a radiotherapy plan evaluation tool: comparison with treatment planning software. (deposited 26 Nov 2019 09:53) [Currently Displayed]
  • Evaluating VERT as a radiotherapy plan evaluation tool: comparison with treatment planning software. (deposited 14 Jan 2020 11:27)