Piloting e-learning in a radiation oncology department

Radiation therapy is an ever-evolving profession that requires radiation therapists to continually update their knowledge and skills to provide quality patient care. In 2006, the radiation therapy educators(RTE) at the Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital in Australia piloted the delivery of in-service education using an e-learning format. To investigate the effectiveness of e-learning compared with the traditional face-to-face method of education, the RTEs chose to compare two cohorts of professional development year (PDY) as the sample. In Australia, graduates are required to complete a PDY before being eligible for full accreditation with the appropriate professional association. The department orientation and treatment planning introduction were the programs used for the investigation. The first PDY cohort received these programs using the traditional face-to- face method and the following years' cohort was presented the material using an e-learning platform. Although the project was limited by a small sample size, the results indicated that e-learning delivered the same content in a more efficient manner than face-to-face while ensuring the same learning outcomes were met.