AWRC Voices: Collaborating with PACC to support students help patients to be physically activity through the Radiotherapy pathway
Cath Holborn is the AWRC’s Training and Education Lead, and a senior lecturer in Radiotherapy and Oncology
On Wednesday 6th March, AWRC colleagues delivered a study day for final year health students training to be Therapeutic Radiographers, undertaking Sheffield Hallam’s pre-registration course – BSc (Hons) Radiotherapy & Oncology.
Therapeutic Radiographers are specialists in the planning and delivery of Radiotherapy. A type of cancer treatment that approximately 50% of people diagnosed with cancer will receive1.Therapeutic Radiographers also play a vital role in the delivery of supportive care, helping patients to manage the adverse effects of cancer and its treatment, that can have both a physical and psychosocial impact on wellbeing and quality of life.
Alongside other approaches, physical activity promotion plays an important role in supporting patients to live well with and beyond their cancer and its treatment2. We know that being physically active can improve overall survival rates and minimise the risk of recurrence, it helps to improve physical and psychological wellbeing, and can minimise the risk of other co-morbidities3. For example, cardio-vascular disease and age-related decline in bone and/or muscle strength, which some cancer treatments can also increase the risk of.
The aim of this study day was to develop the students’ ability to promote physical activity, to patients who receive Radiotherapy, and provide appropriate personalised advice and support. This was delivered as part of our Training & Education pillar. It aligned to our goals of ‘transforming practice’ and ‘inspiring the next generation’ and the AWRC’s vision of improving lives through innovations that help people move, addressing the global challenge of ‘promoting lifelong physical activity’. For the students, this aligned well to the ACCEND4 capability of being able to ‘promote the importance of physical activity for general health and advise on what people with cancer related symptoms can and should do.’
The study day was built around a Physical Activity Clinical Champions (PACC) training session. The PACC programme is a Sport England funded project which is run by a consortium consisting of the AWRC at Sheffield Hallam University, Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK and Intelligent Health. It is an initiative that offers free clinician to clinician training to people working in healthcare. The training aims is to increase health and care professionals’ knowledge and skills so that they can incorporate physical activity within routine care. Aligned with the personalised care agenda, it supports better patient outcomes5.
The students received the PACC training (a 2-hour session) alongside other sessions that increased their understanding of the consequences of cancer and its treatment and the benefits of physical activity for those affected by cancer. Students were also given time to role play brief conversations and discuss opportunities in practice, when physical activity could be promoted, across the Radiotherapy pathway.
The students engaged extremely well with the training and the associated activities. They were clearly motivated to embed their learning into their practice and enhance the wellbeing of their patients. They were asked to complete a short self-assessment questionnaire regarding their ability to engage in conversations about physical activity with their patients, both prior to and after the session.
This event has highlighted the potential impact that this type of training can have. The AWRC Training & Education pillar will continue to work closely with the PACC programme, as they continue to explore how this might be developed e.g., for specific practice areas such as oncology and/or as a core component for pre-registration health course curriculums. We also have plans to develop CPD opportunities focused on exercise and cancer, for qualified oncology and exercise professionals. These would complement the PACC programme, further developing skills in physical activity promotion, and facilitating the integration of this support, including referral to specialist exercise and rehabilitation services, as an core component of cancer patients’ personalised care plans.
References
- Radiotherapy UK (2022) Radiotherapy Key Facts. Radiotherapy UK.
- Macmillan Cancer Support (2013) The Recovery Package. Macmillan Cancer Support.
- Macmillan Cancer Support (2023) Physical Activity and Cancer. Macmillan Cancer Support.
- Career Pathway, Core Cancer Capabilities and Education Framework for the Supportive, Assistive and Registered Nursing and Allied Health Professions Workforce. Health Education England.
- Moving Medicine (2024) About PACC. https://movingmedicine.ac.uk/about-pacc/