Training the Trainees in Radiation Oncology with Telemedicine as a Tool in a Developing Country: A Two-Year Audit

Purpose. The estimated new cancer patient load in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is 0.1–0.12 million per year. Approximately two thirds of these require treatment by a radiation oncologist. Radiation oncologists: cancer patient ratio in this state is 1 : 2000 as compared to the recommended 1 : 25...

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Main Authors: Sushma Agrawal, Anil Kumar Maurya, Kirti Shrivastava, Shaleen Kumar, M. C. Pant, Saroj Kant Mishra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/230670
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author Sushma Agrawal
Anil Kumar Maurya
Kirti Shrivastava
Shaleen Kumar
M. C. Pant
Saroj Kant Mishra
author_facet Sushma Agrawal
Anil Kumar Maurya
Kirti Shrivastava
Shaleen Kumar
M. C. Pant
Saroj Kant Mishra
author_sort Sushma Agrawal
collection DOAJ
description Purpose. The estimated new cancer patient load in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is 0.1–0.12 million per year. Approximately two thirds of these require treatment by a radiation oncologist. Radiation oncologists: cancer patient ratio in this state is 1 : 2000 as compared to the recommended 1 : 250. This problem is compounded by the poor infrastructure of radiation oncology departments in the state which is suboptimal for teaching, training of resident doctors, and treatment in most barring a few departments. To bridge some gap in the sociodemographics stated above and enhancement of training of residents, we submitted a project for establishment of a telemedicine facility in our department to the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. We present the design, implementation, and a two-year audit of our tele-education activities. Materials and Methods. After the sanction of the project, we established telemedicine linkage with another medical institute in the city located 25 kms away in 2007. After implementation of the project, academic sessions designed for trainee residents in our department were shared with the remote end. A record of these activities and a feedback of the activities were audited at the end of 2 years of implementation of this project. Results. Regular videoconferencing sessions comprising of lectures on clinical oncology, medical physics, and radiobiology were held. Feedback from the users revealed satisfaction with the content of the academic sessions for the purpose of MD training. Conclusions. Distance education in radiation oncology is an important tool for training of the trainee residents.
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spelling doaj-art-804d11312a194c1e894e815747f9cb0e2025-08-20T03:35:12ZengWileyInternational Journal of Telemedicine and Applications1687-64151687-64232011-01-01201110.1155/2011/230670230670Training the Trainees in Radiation Oncology with Telemedicine as a Tool in a Developing Country: A Two-Year AuditSushma Agrawal0Anil Kumar Maurya1Kirti Shrivastava2Shaleen Kumar3M. C. Pant4Saroj Kant Mishra5Departments of Radiotherapy, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, IndiaDepartments of Radiotherapy, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, IndiaDepartments of Radiotherapy, Chattrapati Sahuji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow 226003, IndiaDepartments of Radiotherapy, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, IndiaDepartments of Radiotherapy, Chattrapati Sahuji Maharaj Medical University, Lucknow 226003, IndiaEndocrine Surgery, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, IndiaPurpose. The estimated new cancer patient load in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is 0.1–0.12 million per year. Approximately two thirds of these require treatment by a radiation oncologist. Radiation oncologists: cancer patient ratio in this state is 1 : 2000 as compared to the recommended 1 : 250. This problem is compounded by the poor infrastructure of radiation oncology departments in the state which is suboptimal for teaching, training of resident doctors, and treatment in most barring a few departments. To bridge some gap in the sociodemographics stated above and enhancement of training of residents, we submitted a project for establishment of a telemedicine facility in our department to the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. We present the design, implementation, and a two-year audit of our tele-education activities. Materials and Methods. After the sanction of the project, we established telemedicine linkage with another medical institute in the city located 25 kms away in 2007. After implementation of the project, academic sessions designed for trainee residents in our department were shared with the remote end. A record of these activities and a feedback of the activities were audited at the end of 2 years of implementation of this project. Results. Regular videoconferencing sessions comprising of lectures on clinical oncology, medical physics, and radiobiology were held. Feedback from the users revealed satisfaction with the content of the academic sessions for the purpose of MD training. Conclusions. Distance education in radiation oncology is an important tool for training of the trainee residents.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/230670
spellingShingle Sushma Agrawal
Anil Kumar Maurya
Kirti Shrivastava
Shaleen Kumar
M. C. Pant
Saroj Kant Mishra
Training the Trainees in Radiation Oncology with Telemedicine as a Tool in a Developing Country: A Two-Year Audit
International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications
title Training the Trainees in Radiation Oncology with Telemedicine as a Tool in a Developing Country: A Two-Year Audit
title_full Training the Trainees in Radiation Oncology with Telemedicine as a Tool in a Developing Country: A Two-Year Audit
title_fullStr Training the Trainees in Radiation Oncology with Telemedicine as a Tool in a Developing Country: A Two-Year Audit
title_full_unstemmed Training the Trainees in Radiation Oncology with Telemedicine as a Tool in a Developing Country: A Two-Year Audit
title_short Training the Trainees in Radiation Oncology with Telemedicine as a Tool in a Developing Country: A Two-Year Audit
title_sort training the trainees in radiation oncology with telemedicine as a tool in a developing country a two year audit
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/230670
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