The Education and training of clinical medical physicists in 25 European, 2 North American and 2 Australasian countries: Similarities and differences

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• 作者：A.P. Stefanoyiannis^a ; ^{apstefano@yahoo.gr} ; S. Christofides^b ; K. Psichis^c ; D.S. Geoghegan^d ; I. Gerogiannis^b ; W.H. Round^e ; X. Geronikola-Trapali^a ; I. Armeniakos^a ; P.A. Kaplanis^b ; A. Prentakis^a ; S.N. Chatziioannou^a
• 关键词：Medical physicist ; Education ; Hospital training ; Continuing professional development
• 刊名：Physica Medica
• 出版年：2012
• 期刊代码：256_11201797
• 类别：med
• 出版时间：July, 2012
• 卷：28
• 期：3
• 页码：183-190
• 文件大小：161 K

摘要

Purpose

The clinical medical physicist is part of a team responsible for safe and competent provision of radiation-based diagnostic examinations and therapeutic practices. To ensure that the physicist can provide an adequate service, sufficient education and training is indispensable. The aim of this study is to provide a structured description of the present status of the clinical medical physicist education and training framework in 25 European, 2 North American and 2 Australasian countries.

Methods

For this study, data collection was based on a questionnaire prepared by the European Federation of Organizations in Medical Physics (EFOMP) and filled-in either by the corresponding scientific societies-organizations or by the authors.

Results

In the majority of cases, a qualified medical physicist should have an MSc in medical physics and 1-3 years of clinical experience. Education and training takes place in both universities and hospitals and the total duration of the programs ranges from 2.5 to 9 years. In 56%of all European countries, it is mandatory to hold a diploma or license to work as a medical physicist, the situation being similar in Australasian and 4 states of USA. Generally, there are national registers of medical physicists with inclusion on the register being voluntary. There are renewal mechanisms in the registers usually based on a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) system.

Conclusions

In conclusion, a common policy is followed in general, on topics concerning education and training as well as the practice of the medical physicist profession, notwithstanding the presence of a few differences.