A national assessment of person-centred care practice among Canadian radiation therapists.

BACKGROUND: Person-centred care (PCC) is an important and recommended practice for radiation therapists (RTTs). Yet the practice patterns and prevalence of PCC among Canadian RTTs remain unknown. This study aimed to examine the levels of PCC practiced by RTTs across Canada and to explore individual factors associated with PCC practice. METHODS: A national web-based survey was distributed using the Research Electronic Data Capture data management web application (REDCap). The survey included: 1) demographics; 2) the level of agreement with the study's PCC definition; 3) an open-ended question exploring perspective on the PCC definition; 4) the Person-Centred Care Assessment Tool (P-CAT); and 5) frequency of PCC-related practices. The survey was tested with RTTs and reviewed with a public representative with lived experience undergoing radiation therapy. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographics in RStudio. Variables associated with above-median PCC were entered into a multivariable forward conditional logistic regression, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Open-ended questions were analyzed using content analysis in NVivo. RESULTS: From July to September 2025, 318 RTTs from all 10 provinces participated in the survey. The median P-CAT PCC score was 43 (range 18-57) out of a total possible P-CAT score of 65. Prior PCC education and academic background were statistically significant predictors of higher P-CAT PCC scores. The essential requirements of care domain had the highest reported frequency of PCC practice, with 53.1% of respondents reporting they "very often" apply this practice in their work. Five common themes were developed on RTTs' perspectives of PCC, including supporting patient participation, collaborative relationships, a holistic understanding of the person, structural barriers, and tailoring care. CONCLUSION: This is the first national study exploring PCC practices within the scope of Canadian RTTs. RTTs report practicing PCC in their workflows, with scores at or above the P-CAT median for RTTs who have received PCC training and those with a graduate-level academic background, such as a master's or doctoral degree. Future research should explore specific barriers and facilitators of RTTs' PCC practice and develop an education or implementation strategy to improve PCC delivery. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Person-centred care focuses on understanding and responding to each person's individual needs, preferences, and experiences during healthcare. This study surveyed radiation therapists across Canada to examine how often they use person-centred care practices and what factors may influence them. This study found that many radiation therapists reported using person-centred care regularly, and higher levels were linked to previous training and graduate-level education. This matters because understanding and supporting person-centred care can help improve the treatment experience for people receiving radiation therapy.