At The Toronto Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre (TSRCC) we have produced multimedia tutorials for teaching residents and Radiation Oncologists. We are one of the first Canadian Cancer Centres to use brachytherapy for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. So far we have treated over one hundred patients using this modality. Oncologists, technologists, dosimetrists and nurses from other Canadian Centres who are interested in implementing this technique have visited our Centre. During their visit they have the opportunity to observe the details of our technique and gain hand-on experience. On their return home they have only text-based material to share with their colleagues. A CD-ROM provides an

To our knowledge there is no multimedia educational CD-ROM tutorial about Prostate brachytherapy. A good multimedia tutorial is more effective than traditional manuals for adult learning. Complex procedures are difficult to describe accurately and are best demonstrated using pictures and video clips. Rotating a 3D rendering of the target can effectively convey the relationship between the target volume and critical structures to those unfamiliar with anatomical details. Visual clips are superior to written text to transfer complex information. Recent graduates expect the computer to be part of their educational tools.

We produced an educational multimedia CD-ROM to teach the details of our technique to Radiation Oncologists, medical physicists, dosimetrists and nurses. This teaching tool would also be of interest to students in an oncology program. The tutorial is geared to radiation oncologists, technologists, nurses and residents. With the current trend of centralized teaching facilities for residents and technologists training the use of multimedia tutorials may be more appropriate than conventional text and easier to update.

BENEFIT TO PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING SESSION:

Explain the indications and requirements for this novel procedure -Demonstrate the TSRCC technique of Prostate brachytherapy -Show the value of multimedia for teaching complex concepts -

Dr C Danjoux
Toronto Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre 2075 Bayview Ave
Toronto. M4N 3M5
Ontario, Canada
Phone: 416 480 4998
Fax: 416 480 6002
Email: cyril.danjoux@tsrcc.on.ca

CO-AUTHORS:
K Mah, R Choo, G Morton
Toronto Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre 2075 Bayview Ave
Toronto. M4N 3M5
Ontario. Canada