{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nClimate change poses increasing risks to human health and healthcare delivery, including increased cancer burden, treatment disruptions, and exacerbation of comorbidities. Despite growing international attention to sustainable cancer care, Canadian data on professional perceptions, institutional practices, and priorities for action within radiation oncology remain limited.Objective\n\nThis study aimed to assess perceptions, knowledge, and workplace practices related to planetary health and sustainability among Canadian radiation oncology professionals.Methods\n\nA cross-sectional electronic survey was distributed to Canadian radiation oncology professionals and trainees through the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO) membership email list and departmental distribution across cancer centers. The 27-item questionnaire was developed based on previously validated climate perception and sustainability surveys, including SASSY and CHANT, and assessed perceptions of climate change and health impacts, workplace sustainability practices, and priorities for action. Responses were anonymous and analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results\n\nA total of 108 respondents completed the survey, including radiation oncologists, therapists, physicists, nurses, and trainees from nine provinces. Climate change was rated as a personal priority by 73% (n = 79/108) of respondents, and 75% (n = 81/108) agreed that it would increase cancer incidence. Support for prioritizing low-carbon, low-waste cancer care was high (77%; n = 83/108). However, only 34% (n = 37/108) reported the presence of a sustainability initiative at their cancer center, and 62% (n = 67/108) felt sustainability was not a workplace priority. Strong support was expressed for CARO-led initiatives, including member education on planetary health (77%; n = 83/108), sustainability recommendations for clinical practice (76%; n = 82/108), and evaluation of radiation oncology's carbon footprint (69%; n = 75/108). Interest in reducing CARO ASM emissions was high, with 58% (n = 63/108) supporting at least a 30% reduction.Conclusion\n\nWhile Canadian radiation oncology professionals recognize the relevance of climate change to cancer care and support action in sustainability, institutional implementation remains limited. Future work should evaluate strategies to engage broader professional groups and increase awareness and participation in sustainability initiatives in radiation oncology.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, CAN.",
    "Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, CAN.",
    "Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, CAN.",
    "Stronach Regional Cancer Centre, Southlake Health, Newmarket, CAN.",
    "Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, CAN.",
    "Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, CAN.",
    "Division of Radiation Oncology, McMaster University, Hamilton, CAN.",
    "Division of Radiation Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, CAN.",
    "Radiation Medicine Program, Stronach Regional Cancer Centre, Southlake Health, Newmarket, CAN.",
    "Division of Radiation Oncology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, CAN.",
    "Department of Radiation Oncology, London Health Sciences Centre, London, CAN.",
    "Department of Radiotherapy, BC Cancer-Victoria, Victoria, CAN.",
    "Department of Radiotherapy, BC Cancer-Vancouver, Vancouver, CAN."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 12,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Stephanie Quon"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Philip Wong"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Zahra Kassam"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Natalie Rozanec"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Kristopher Dennis"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Adam Gabara"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Conrad Bayley"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        8
      ],
      "name": "Daria Comsa"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9
      ],
      "name": "Joanne Alfieri"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        10
      ],
      "name": "David Palma"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        11
      ],
      "name": "Isabelle Vallieres"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        12
      ],
      "name": "Shilo Lefresne"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/741f93pvtvs1x.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.7759/cureus.116941",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13696054",
  "id": "741f93pvtvs1x",
  "issns": [
    "2168-8184"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928945",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2741|Advances in Oncology and Radiotherapy"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214336207",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13696054?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13696054",
  "pmid": "42928945",
  "published": "2026-09-25",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/741f93pvtvs1x.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:21:18Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42928945",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928945"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2741|Advances in Oncology and Radiotherapy",
      "subfield": "imaging"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Perceptions of Planetary Health and Sustainability Among Canadian Radiation Oncology Professionals: A National Survey.",
  "title_text": "Perceptions of Planetary Health and Sustainability Among Canadian Radiation Oncology Professionals: A National Survey.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:21:18Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/741f93pvtvs1x",
  "venue": "Cureus",
  "versions": []
}