Theory of reflection in learning for radiation therapists

Practicing reflectively can assist the radiation therapist to monitor their work, foster professional growth and encourage currency of skills. Reflection is an attractive and desirable component to a radiation therapist's skill base. To provide radiation therapists the skills necessary to engage in reflection, they need a basic understanding of the theory underpinning reflection and reflective practice, and how they can be applied in the context of radiation therapy. This paper discusses the modern pioneers of reflective theory, as well as the concepts surrounding reflection and professional practice. The concepts central to experiential learning and the role reflection plays in the experiential learning cycle are described. This paper supports the role of reflection in the radiation oncology workplace and simplifies the theories of reflection described in the literature. It is the first step towards facilitating and supporting skill development in reflective thinking for clinical radiation therapists.