Biography
Claire Poole is an assistant professor in the Discipline of Radiation Therapy. Prior to this she worked clinically as a Radiation Therapist in London and Australia before returning to Ireland and working in Cork University Hospital.
She was appointed an assistant professor at the Discipline of Radiation Therapy in 2007 and was appointed Director of Clinical Education in 2023- combining her previous clinical experience with her academic role. She has demonstrated leadership and innovation in the area of clinical education with ongoing evaluation and promotion of accurate clinical education delivery.She has completed a postgraduate diploma and a research masters in clinical education. Claire collaborates with national and international colleagues to ensure the maintenance of the highest professional standards of clinical assessors and graduating students. In 2017, she was awarded the ESTRO School pedagogic program AMEE grant.
Claire is an advocate for radiation therapy as a cancer treatment with her research focusing on the barriers to optimal utilization of radiation therapy. She founded and leads the Applied Radiation Therapy_ Patient and Public Involvement group (ARTT_PPI) with the aim of implementing the voices and experience of patient, carers, families and public into radiation therapy education, research and clinical practice. She is an active researcher that has published and presented at several conferences. She is also a reviewer for several leading oncology journals.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
SK Zazzera , C Poole & L Marignol, Investigating the Needs and Concerns of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, or Questioning Cancer Patients, Journal of Homosexuality, 2024
Quigley, Duana; Poole, Claire; Whiting, Sinead; O'Connor, Erna; Gleeson, Claire; Alpine, Lucy, University student experiences of work-based placements during COVID-19 pandemic: An inter-disciplinary survey of allied health and social work students., Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, 13, (1), 2023
Maeve Kearney,Cicely Roche, Claire Poole, Triad of Support Framework to enhance student success and learning in work-based placements: Interdisciplinary Experience, INHED 2022, ONLINE, 24th March, 2022
Kearney, Maeve; Roche, Cicely; Poole, Claire., Promoting Professional Judgement through peer debate in radiation therapy undergraduate curriculum, Technical Innovations & Patient Support in Radiation Oncology, 2022, p11
Siobhan Davis, Duana Quigley, Mary O' Neill, Lucy Alpine, Erma O'Connor, Maeve Kearney, Claire Poole, Developing students' feedback literacy in healthcare curriculum: a supportive educational innovation., ADEE August 2022, 2022
Claire Poole, Can virtual learning methods like VERT improve education in radiation oncology, ESTRO 2022, Copenhagen, 7th May , 2022, European Society Radiation Oncology (ESTRO)
Siobhan Davis, Duana Quigley, Mary O' Neill, Lucy Alpine, Erma O'Connor, Maeve Kearney, Claire Poole, Developing students' feedback literacy in healthcare curriculum: a supportive educational innovation., CPD and clinical governance meeting, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Dublin Ireland, 30th August 2022, 2022
Claire Poole and Aileen Patterson, Fostering the development of professional identity within healthcare education-interdisciplinary innovation, Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 2021, pS45 - S50
Ellen Winters, Challenges and impact of patient obesity in Radiation Therapy practice, Radiography, 2020
Claire Poole, Mieke Akkers, Laura La Porta, Christine Verfaillie, Test Enhanced Learning for continuing education, INHED2020 Annual Conference, Trinity Biomedical Science Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 2020
Kate Lawless, Dr. Patrick Murphy, Dr. Laure Marignol, Claire Poole, Influences impacting the attitudes of parents towards the HPV vaccine, Journal of Cancer Prevention and Current Research, 11, (1), 2020, p7 - 11
Michelle Leech,Claire Poole,S. Gallagher, W. Fox, Advocating for radiation oncology through the development of a massive open online course , ESTRO 38, Milan, 26TH April, 2019
Ryan E and Poole C, Impact of Virtual Learning Environment on Students' Satisfaction, Engagement, Recall, and Retention, Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 50, (3), 2019, p408 - 415
Ryan Eimear and Poole Claire, IMPACT OF VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ON STUDENTS' SATISFACTION, ENGAGEMENT, RECALL AND RETENTION, ESTRO 38, Milan, 26th April, 2019
Kate Lawless, Claire Poole,Patrick J Murphy, ATTITUDES OF PARENTS OF FEMALE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TOWARDS THE HPV VACCINE, ESTRO 38, Milan, 26TH April, 2019
Sarah Caulfield, Gerard Menezes, Laure Marignol, Claire Poole, Nomograms are key decision-making tools in prostate cancer radiation therapy, Urologic Oncology:Seminars and Original Investigations, 36, 2018, p283 - 292
Crystalrose Percival, Mickayla Landy, Claire Poole and Laura Mullaney, The role of Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation for Non- small Cell Lung Cancer, Anticancer Research, 38, 2018, p7 - 14
Claire Poole, Assessment Project- Test Enhanced Learning for continuing education, ESTRO directors meeting, Brussels, 06.02, 2018, ESTRO
Claire Poole, Radiography, 2018
K. Dowling , C. Poole , L. Mullaney , S. Barrett, OC-0467: Investigating reporting-and-learning systems of Irish radiation therapy: Can standards be improved?, 123, 2017, ppS248 - S249
Kevin Dowling, Sarah Barrett, Laura Mullaney, Claire Poole, A nationwide investigation of radiation therapy event reporting-and- learning systems: Can standards be improved?, Radiography. International Journal of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation Therapy, 23, (4), 2017, p279 - 286
Claire Poole, Clinical Audit, Workload Management and Implementing new techniques, Cyprus Conference RT, Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre, 29-30 March, 2017, Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre
Conneely F.,Ackermann P.,Bowles M.,Dunphy E.,Flattery V., Murphy C., Nolan P., Poole C., Swanton S and J.Reed, 'Health and Social Care Professions Education and Development Strategy', National Health and Social Care Professions Office, 2017, 1 - 24
O'Donovan, A. and Poole, C., Fink About It: Development and Evaluation of a Communications Curriculum for Healthcare Professionals,, MedEdPublish, 5, (1), 2016, p16-
Conneely F.,Ackermann P.,Benton E., Fitzpatrick S., Regan I., Poole C., Swanton S and J.Reed, 'Advanced Practice Toolkit for the health and social care professions', HSE, 2016, 1 - 32
Poole C. and Boland J., What influences assessors' internalised standards?, Radiography, 22, 2016, pe99 - e105
Conneely F.,Benton E., Ackermann P., Fitzpatrick S., Regan I., McNeill., Stokes E., Swanton S., Poole C. and Reed J., 'Progressing Advanced Practice in the Health and Social Care Professions', HSE, 2014, 1 - 14
Claire Poole and Josephine Boland, The impact of internalised standards on Clinical Placement ASSESSMENT, INMED 2014, Queens University,BELFAST, 19-21st Feb 2014, 2014
O'Donovan Theresa, McKenna Catherine, Corish Siobhan, O'Sullivan Lydia, Edel Doyle and Poole Claire, 'Scope of Practice of Radiation Therapist', (2 ED), Dublin, IIRRT, 2013, 1 - 40
Leech M, Craig A, Poole C, Broderick M, Ni Chuinneagain S, Coffey M, Byrne J, Clinical Oral Examinations: Assessment of Competency in Radiation Therapy, Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice, 8, (3), 2009, p115 - 118
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
Claire Poole, Communication of risk to patients being treated by radiation therapy, Rocc'N'Roll project- workshop on risk communication, ONLINE, 8th Feb, 2022, European Cancer Organisation
Claire Poole and Mary Coffey, Current and Future Trends in the Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, 16th November 2013, In:CPC Teaching and clinical governance afternoon, 2013, Discipline of Radiation Therapy,Trinity for Health Sciences
Research Expertise
Description
Claire's research interests are in education, specifically clinical education and advocating for radiation therapy as a cancer treatment. Her research and expertise have enabled her to collaborate and work both nationally and internationally. She has worked with the Health and Social Care Education and Development Advisory group, the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, the Irish Institute of Radiographers and Radiation Therapists to publish a position paper, an education strategy, scope of practice guidelines for radiation therapists and to contribute to ongoing development in the area of education especially in the area of clinical work based assessments. She was successful in being awarded a European grant from the ESTRO school of pedagogy and asked to join their working committee to develop and implement a research project on assessment as a learning tool. Claire is also an advocate for radiation therapy as a key cancer treatment. Currently radiation therapy is under- utilised as a cancer treatment in spite of the fact that 50-60% of patients would benefit from it. Claire recently began her PhD studies. Her main research objective is to explore the public, cancer patients' and health professionals' perceptions of RT in order to identify the key factors that may impact their decision-making process about utilising RT such that recommendations to improve access to RT can be made and utilisation of RT can be optimised. She was successfully awarded a grant from Trinity online to develop a Massive Open Online Course to inform the public, patients and their families about radiation therapy as a cancer treatment. The success of this MOOC allowed her to collaborate with the University of Maastricht and the European Cancer Patient Coalition to win an EIT grant to pilot a study across various countries, ages and socio-economic groups. The study involved translating the MOOC into 7 languages and adding a decision aid to the current platform to enable patients to take control of their aftercare once cancer treatment is completed.Projects
- Title
- Healthcare Student and Clinical Teachers perceptions of Teaching and Learning in the Clinical Environment
- Summary
- The overall aim of the project is to address the gap in knowledge and skills for clinical practitioners when adapting to a clinical teacher role with a view to enhancing the teaching and learning experience for teachers and students.
- Funding Agency
- Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund
- Date From
- 2021
- Date To
- 2022
- Title
- EPRO_Empowering European Patients in Radiation Oncology
- Summary
- E-PRO is a collaborative project between Trinity College Dublin, University of Maastricht and the European Cancer Patient Coalition. The project aims to enhance patients' decision making process towards their healthcare by adding a patient decision aid to a MOOC developed by myself and my colleague within the Discipline of Radiation Therapy. The MOOC will be translated into 3 European languages and piloted across various countries, patient age and socioeconomic groups
- Funding Agency
- EIT Health
- Date From
- 01/01/2020
- Date To
- 31/12/2020
- Title
- Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement Funding in Higher Education 2019
- Summary
- Aim: to support student transitions in healthcare programmes, through the establishment of a faculty and student engagement initiative to create a consensus framework for professional formation of healthcare students and inform ongoing developments in relevant programmes.
- Funding Agency
- National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning
- Date From
- 2019
- Date To
- 01.09.2020
- Title
- Test Enhanced Learning for continuing education
- Summary
- Determine if a spaced assessment program based on the principles of the 'Testing effect' will enhance learners retention of knowledge
- Funding Agency
- ESTRO School Pedagogics Group
- Date From
- 2018
- Title
- From diagnosis to survival: An introduction to Radiation Oncology
- Summary
- Develop a massive open online course for patients and other healthcare professionals to educate them about radiation oncology/therapy.
- Funding Agency
- Trinity Online Services
- Date From
- September 2018
- Title
- Barriers to Accessing Radiation Oncology -BARO project
- Summary
- The Overall Aim of this project is to explore the public, cancer patients' and health professionals' perceptions of RT in order to identify the key factors that may impact their decision-making process about utilising RT such that recommendations to improve access to RT can be made and utilisation of RT can be optimised.
- Date From
- 2018
- Title
- Core competencies and minimum standards for the final clinical placement of Radiation Therapy students in Ireland: Perspectives of experienced clinical radiation therapists.
- Summary
- In Ireland clinical radiation therapist work in a range of different radiotherapy departments and conduct student assessments. They are expected to assess students against a pre-determined list of criteria and make judgments on whether that student meets these competencies or not. The meaning given to criteria or how personal beliefs, values or expectations may influence their judgments is unknown. My research study aimed to explore their understanding of these factors and explore the concept of internalised standards and how they may influence judgments.
- Date From
- 2009
- Date To
- 2011
Recognition
Representations
Member of the CORU Committee of Inquiry- professional conduct committee
International Arts in Pharmacy special interest group
Executive committe member of INHED
Committee member of Practice Education Coordinators Network (PECNET)
Executive committee member for INMED
Invited member of the Clinical Education Advisory Group, Trinity College, Dublin
Contributor to the National Form for enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education- work based assessment series
Academic Assessor on the CORU Radiographers Registration Board Assessor Panel
Council Member of the Irish Institute Of Radiography and Radiotherapy
Representative of the IIRRT on the HSE's Health and Social Care Professions Advisory Group
Representative from academia to CORU for consultation on criteria and standards of proficiency for radiation therapist education and training programmes
Primary co-ordinator and member of the Joint Working Group on Clinical Education Standards for Radiation Therapy.
Academic advisor on the Radiation Therapy Qualification Review Board for the HSE.
Awards and Honours
MOOC Development- Creating Global Learning communities- Trinity Online Services
AMEE Conference Grant- ESTRO Mobility Grant
Memberships
ESTRO
CORU- Registered Member
Irish Network of Healthcare Educators (iNHED)
Practice Education Co-ordinators Network (PECNET)
Irish Network of Medical Educators (INMED)
Irish Institute of Radiography and Radiation Therapy (IIRRT)
European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology