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ASMIRT Medical Imaging Workforce Planning

Welcome

These questions are designed to give researchers a snapshot of your department prior to the interviews being conducted. Thank you for participating in our research project. Your feedback is important.
What is the Project About?
In 2001 the Radiation Therapy Advisory Panel (RTAP) of the then Australian Institute of Radiography (AIR) published a model for radiation therapist staffing in Australian radiation oncology departments (The Radiographer, 2001). Since that publication, the techniques and technologies employed in radiation oncology have developed and evolved considerably. In 2012 it was considered timely that the model be reviewed and refreshed to reflect current radiation therapy and radiation oncology practice, technology, and the organisation of Australian radiotherapy facilities.

Revision of the model was supported by a grant awarded to the AIR in August 2012 under the Department of Health and Ageing Better Access to Radiation Oncology program (BARO). Funding support enabled the appointment of a consultant to assist in independently validating data collected to underpin the model’s framework and its revision.

An equivalent study is being proposed, to develop a medical imaging staffing model to identify the requirements for workforce planning in the medical imaging sector.

The design of this model will be framed to enable flexibility and elasticity to reflect the operations of public hospital medical imaging departments. This will account for variation in staffing numbers as demand and operating hours change and includes varying service profiles and case mix profiles. Whilst the model will focus largely on the general Xray modality, it is acknowledged that medical imaging departments are comprised of a number of modalities which need to be serviced.

Who is doing the Research?
This research has been initiated by the researcher, Associate Professor Andrew Kilgour and is being supported by the Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy.

The research will produce academic and non-academic outputs.

Why am I being asked to take part and what will I have to do?
You have been asked to take part because you are a current financial voting member of ASMIRT.

If you agree to participate, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire. This questionnaire will be completed online using a platform hosted by SurveyMonkey. Completion of the questionnaire is expected to take 10 - 15 minutes.
Are there any benefits to being in the research project?
We cannot guarantee or promise that you will receive any benefits from this research; however, you may appreciate contributing to knowledge. Possible benefits may include:

Creation of a simple and flexible process to enable departments to calculate their particular staffing requirements utilising both baseline parameters and incorporating particular operating circumstances in respect to:

• operating hours
• case mix and complexity
• involvement with education and training
• involvement in research and clinical trials
• other imaging modalities delivered
• service and organisational structure

Are there any risks, side-effects, discomforts or inconveniences from being in the research project?
As the project relates to your work there is a risk that your answers may reflect negatively on you professionally. If you choose to participate, you will have the ability to amend parts of your data or withdraw it in whole or in part.

Who will have access to my information?
The information collected in this research will be non-identifiable (anonymous). No one, not even the research team will be able to identify your information. The following people will have access to the information we collect in this research: the research team and, in the event of an audit or investigation, staff from the RMIT University Office of Research and Development.

Any information collected by the researchers will be stored securely at all times. Electronic data will be password-protected and hard copy data will be in locked storage.

Questionnaire responses will be retained in SurveyMonkey during the data collection period. While in SurveyMonkey, the data can be accessed by the research team. At the end of the data collection period, the data will be removed and deleted from SurveyMonkey and stored on password-protected computers of the researchers.

The information we collect in this study will be kept under secure conditions at RMIT University and ASMIRT for 7 years after the research is published and then it will be destroyed.

The results of the research may be presented at conferences or published in professional journals. You will not be identified in any results that are published or presented.

Will you tell me the results of the research?
The results of this research will be available following the completion of the study via various sources; presentations, publications and website. Results will not be individual but based on all the information we collect and review as part of the research.
Do I have to take part in the research project?
Participation in this research is voluntary. It is your choice to take part or not. Only those people who give their consent will be included in the research. Whether or not you decide to participate, your decision will not disadvantage you nor affect your relationship with the University or ASMIRT. If you do decide to participate, you may withdraw at any time until submission of the questionnaire by simply closing the browser. However, as the data is anonymous, you cannot withdraw once your responses have been submitted.

What happens next and who can I contact about the research?
Please read this participant information statement and be sure you understand its contents before you consent to participate. If there is anything you do not understand, or have questions, please contact Andrew Kilgour.

If you would like to participate, please complete the "YES" checkbox at the end of this statement, select “NEXT”, and submit the questionnaire. Submission of the questionnaire is taken as implied consent to use the information provided for research purposes. If you select "NO", you will automatically exit and will not be able to return to complete the questionnaire.

Thank you for participating.
Andrew Kilgour
RMIT University
Phone: +61 3 9925 0254
Email: andrew.kilgour2@rmit.edu.au

RMIT University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) has approved this study (HREC number 26334). Should you wish to discuss the study with someone not directly involved, in particular, any matters concerning the conduct of the study or your rights as a participant, or you wish to make a confidential complaint, you may contact the Ethics Officer on (03) 9925 2138 or email human.ethics@rmit.edu.au.
1.I have read and understood the information for participants provided above and consent to participate in this research.(Required.)
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