Simulators have revolutionized medical education and training across various disciplines, offering unique advantages in skill acquisition and performance improvement. In the context of interventional radiation therapy (IRT), simulators have emerged as valuable tools for training healthcare professionals in these complex procedures. This narrative review summarized the available evidence on the use of simulators in IRT training, highlighting their impact on proficiency, engagement, and self-confidence as well as their benefits for medical physicists and radiation therapists.

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, resulting in inclusion of 10 papers published since 2009, with 5 of them published since 2020. Publications originated from centers in USA, Ireland, Switzerland, Canada, and Japan, covering a range of IRT settings, including general, prostate, and cervical IRT.

The review demonstrated that simulators provide a controlled and realistic environment for skill acquisition, allowing healthcare professionals to practice procedures, optimize image quality, and enhance technical proficiency. The use of simulators addressed the barriers associated with limited caseload and procedural complexity, ultimately contributing to improved education and IRT training. While cost considerations may exist, simulators offer long-term cost-effective solutions, balancing the potential benefits in improving educational outcomes and patient care.

Overall, simulators play a crucial role in IRT training, enhancing the skills and competence of healthcare providers and improving access to quality IRT care worldwide. Future research should focus on evaluating the long-term impact of simulation-based training on clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction, exploring different simulation models and training approaches, and addressing region-specific barriers to optimize the utilization of IRT.

中文翻译：

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训练模拟器在介入放射治疗（近距离放射治疗）训练中的作用：叙述性回顾

模拟器彻底改变了各个学科的医学教育和培训，在技能获取和绩效提高方面提供了独特的优势。在介入放射治疗 (IRT) 的背景下，模拟器已成为培训医疗保健专业人员执行这些复杂手术的宝贵工具。这篇叙述性综述总结了在 IRT 培训中使用模拟器的现有证据，强调了它们对熟练程度、参与度和自信心的影响，以及它们对医学物理学家和放射治疗师的好处。

PubMed 进行了系统检索，纳入了 2009 年以来发表的 10 篇论文，其中 2020 年以来发表了 5 篇。出版物来自美国、爱尔兰、瑞士、加拿大和日本的中心，涵盖了一系列 IRT 环境，包括一般、前列腺和宫颈 IRT。

审查表明，模拟器为技能获取提供了一个受控且真实的环境，使医疗保健专业人员能够练习程序、优化图像质量并提高技术熟练程度。模拟器的使用解决了与有限的案件量和程序复杂性相关的障碍，最终有助于改善教育和 IRT 培训。虽然可能存在成本考虑，但模拟器提供了长期具有成本效益的解决方案，平衡了改善教育成果和患者护理的潜在好处。

总体而言，模拟器在 IRT 培训、提高医疗保健提供者的技能和能力以及改善全球获得优质 IRT 护理的机会方面发挥着至关重要的作用。未来的研究应侧重于评估基于模拟的培训对临床结果和患者满意度的长期影响，探索不同的模拟模型和培训方法，并解决特定地区的障碍以优化 IRT 的利用。