Developing a readiness self-assessment tool for low- and middle-income countries establishing new radiotherapy services: A participant validation study.

Donkor, A; Luckett, T; Aranda, S; Vanderpuye, V; Phillips, J

Developing a readiness self-assessment tool for low- and middle-income countries establishing new radiotherapy services: A participant validation study.

Donkor, A

Luckett, T

Aranda, S Vanderpuye, V Phillips, J

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Physica medica : PM : an international journal devoted to the applications of physics to medicine and biology : official journal of the Italian Association of Biomedical Physics (AIFB), 2020, 71, pp. 88-99
Issue Date:: 2020-03

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Donkor, A https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6073-524X
dc.contributor.author	Luckett, T https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6121-5409
dc.contributor.author	Aranda, S
dc.contributor.author	Vanderpuye, V
dc.contributor.author	Phillips, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3691-8230
dc.date.accessioned	2020-08-07T06:32:44Z
dc.date.available	2020-02-19
dc.date.available	2020-08-07T06:32:44Z
dc.date.issued	2020-03
dc.identifier.citation	Physica medica : PM : an international journal devoted to the applications of physics to medicine and biology : official journal of the Italian Association of Biomedical Physics (AIFB), 2020, 71, pp. 88-99
dc.identifier.issn	1120-1797
dc.identifier.issn	1724-191X
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/142020
dc.description.abstract	PURPOSE:Assessing low-and middle-income countries' (LMICs') readiness to establish new radiotherapy services is an important but empirically understudied concept. The purpose of this study is to develop and confirm a core set of readiness requirements and criteria that can be used to gauge LMICs preparedness to establish radiotherapy services. METHODS:Based on a systematic review and semi-structured expert interviews, a pool of requirements and criteria were generated. To confirm or disconfirm these items, we adopted a synthesised member checking process, also known as participant validation. A purposive sampling strategy was used to recruit radiotherapy experts. Items were sent via email. Each item was reviewed by participants. Qualitative comments were analysed thematically. FINDINGS:Seven of the 17 experts who participated in an earlier semi-structured interview contributed to this participant validation study. The final version of the readiness self-assessment tool for LMICs establishing new radiotherapy services contains 37 requirements mapped into four readiness domains, grouped under the following categories: commitment; cooperation; capacity; and catalyst. Among 23 criteria for commitment domain, participants reviewed 22 as relevant for inclusion. The cooperation requirements considered important, included: "strategic planning team", "stakeholder involvement" and a "technical assistance plan". Capacity requirements, which were endorsed included: "responsible project manager"; "availability of radiotherapy expertise"; and "training for initial core staff". Participants' feedbacks supported the inclusion of all the requirements and criteria related to catalyst. CONCLUSION:The readiness self-assessment tool is a promising planning and evaluation tool for use by stakeholders interested in expanding access to radiotherapy services in LMICs.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCI LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Physica medica : PM : an international journal devoted to the applications of physics to medicine and biology : official journal of the Italian Association of Biomedical Physics (AIFB)
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.ejmp.2020.02.015
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	02 Physical Sciences, 06 Biological Sciences, 11 Medical and Health Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
dc.title	Developing a readiness self-assessment tool for low- and middle-income countries establishing new radiotherapy services: A participant validation study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	71
utslib.location.activity	Italy
utslib.for	02 Physical Sciences
utslib.for	06 Biological Sciences
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/IMPACCT
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHT - Health Technologies
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2020-08-07T06:32:33Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	71

Abstract:

PURPOSE:Assessing low-and middle-income countries' (LMICs') readiness to establish new radiotherapy services is an important but empirically understudied concept. The purpose of this study is to develop and confirm a core set of readiness requirements and criteria that can be used to gauge LMICs preparedness to establish radiotherapy services. METHODS:Based on a systematic review and semi-structured expert interviews, a pool of requirements and criteria were generated. To confirm or disconfirm these items, we adopted a synthesised member checking process, also known as participant validation. A purposive sampling strategy was used to recruit radiotherapy experts. Items were sent via email. Each item was reviewed by participants. Qualitative comments were analysed thematically. FINDINGS:Seven of the 17 experts who participated in an earlier semi-structured interview contributed to this participant validation study. The final version of the readiness self-assessment tool for LMICs establishing new radiotherapy services contains 37 requirements mapped into four readiness domains, grouped under the following categories: commitment; cooperation; capacity; and catalyst. Among 23 criteria for commitment domain, participants reviewed 22 as relevant for inclusion. The cooperation requirements considered important, included: "strategic planning team", "stakeholder involvement" and a "technical assistance plan". Capacity requirements, which were endorsed included: "responsible project manager"; "availability of radiotherapy expertise"; and "training for initial core staff". Participants' feedbacks supported the inclusion of all the requirements and criteria related to catalyst. CONCLUSION:The readiness self-assessment tool is a promising planning and evaluation tool for use by stakeholders interested in expanding access to radiotherapy services in LMICs.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/142020