Are there enough radiation oncologists to lead the new Spanish radiotherapy?

• A. Rodríguez ^[1] ; M. Arenas ^[2] ; P. C. Lara ^[6] ; J. López-Torrecilla ^[3] ; M. Algara ^[4] ; A. Conde ^[7] ; H. Pérez-Montero ^[8] ; J. L. Muñoz ^[9] ; P. Peleteiro ^[10] ; M. J. Pérez-Calatayud ^[7] ; J. Contreras ^[5] ; C. Ferrer ^[11] ; The Spanish Society of Oncology and Radiotherapy SEOR Analysis Group
  1. [1] Hospital Ruber Internacional

     Hospital Ruber Internacional

     Madrid, España

     
  2. [2] Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus

     Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus

     Reus, España

     
  3. [3] Hospital General Universitario de Valencia

     Hospital General Universitario de Valencia

     Valencia, España

     
  4. [4] Hospital del Mar

     Hospital del Mar

     Barcelona, España

     
  5. [5] Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga

     Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga

     Málaga, España

     
  6. [6] Hospital Universitario San Roque
  7. [7] Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe
  8. [8] Instituto Catalán de Oncología
  9. [9] Hospital Universitario de Badajoz
  10. [10] Hospital Clinico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela
  11. [11] Consorcio Hospitalario Provincial de Castellón

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• Localización: Clinical & translational oncology, ISSN 1699-048X, Vol. 21, Nº. 12 (December), 2019, págs. 1663-1672
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Aim Radiation oncology services in Spain are undergoing a process of technical modernization, but—in a context of increasing demand by an ageing population—it is unclear whether there are enough radiation oncologists to staff the newly equipped units. This study aims to assess the number of specialists working in radiation oncology services in Spain relative to current and future needs.

    Materials and methods In the second half of 2017, the Commission on Infrastructures of the Spanish Society for Radiation Oncology (SEOR) sent a questionnaire on radiation oncology staff to the heads of all 122 public (n = 76, 62%) and private (n = 46, 38%) radiation oncology services in Spain. Data collected were the number of professionals, their position, and their year of birth for specialists and residents in each service. In the descriptive analysis, for continuous variables we calculated means, standard deviations and ranges for each Spanish region and work post. For qualitative variables, we constructed frequency tables. All analyses were performed with R statistical software, version 3.5.1.

    Results The survey response rate was 100% among service heads across all 122 centers. The total number of radiation oncologists working in these centers is 721, or 15.4 per million population, with considerable variations between regions. Given the national recommendations to have 20 radiation oncologists per million population, there is currently a deficit of 204 specialists. If the 163 upcoming retirements are also taken into account, there will be 367 fewer radiation oncologists than required to meet the 25% increase in indications for radiotherapy projected for 2025.

    Conclusions The classic model for calculating staff needs based on the number of treatments is outdated, and recommendations should be revised to reflect the current reality. A new model should integrate the most complex technological advances and emerging plans in radiotherapy, without neglecting the other activities carried out in radiation oncology services that are not directly linked to patient care.