ESTRO 2023 - Abstract Book

S1942

Digital Posters

ESTRO 2023

PO-2158 The experiences of women receiving low-dose brachytherapy for cervical cancer

A. hadhemi 1 , K. Ben Zid 2 , N. Attia 2 , A. Mousli 2 , S. Messoudi 2 , F. Bouguerra 2 , R. Abidi 2 , C. Nasr 2

1 Salah Azaiez institute, radiation oncology, Tunis, Tunisia; 2 Salah Azaiez Institute, radiation oncology, Tunis, Tunisia

Purpose or Objective Intracavity brachytherapy for gynaecological cancer presents patients with a wide range of physical and psychological challenges. Previous research into women’s experiences of this treatment has been limited especially in our country. A better understanding of the experiences of this specific group could inform the provision of supportive care services and provide useful information to be included in education programmers for them. Objective: a prospective study of women’s experiences undergoing low-dose brachytherapy for cervical cancer Materials and Methods Anxiety levels before and after intracavitary brachytherapy application and factors influencing anxiety levels were evaluated. Women were evaluated for psychological status before each brachytherapy application using the State Anxiety Trait Inventory Scale-form Y2 (STAI_Y2) and after brachytherapy using the STAI_Y1 scale. Scores were grouped as follows: > 65: very high, 56-65: high, 46-55: medium, 36-45: low and =<35: very low. Women were also questioned about other factors which could affect anxiety levels such as marital status, education level, number of pregnancies and delivery type. After brachytherapy, three themes were evaluated: anxiety (STAI_Y1 scale), pain (visual analogue scale (VAS)) and discomfort (visual discomfort scale). Both VAS and discomfort scales were rated out of ten. Results between January and June 2022, twenty women undergoing low-dose brachytherapy for cervical cancer were included in our study. The medium age was 58 years (36-82). The median pregnancy number was four (range = 0-10). Ninety-five per cent of them had a natural delivery. Before treatment, the anxiety scores (STAI-2) were low at 70%, medium at 20% and high at 10%. After treatment, the anxiety scores were high at 60% and medium at 40%. The pain medium score was 4. The discomfort medium score was 7. Ninety per cent of women described the experience as humiliating due to the gynaecological position. Marital status and pregnancy number showed a significant correlation with high anxiety scores. Age, level of education or the type of delivery showed no correlation with anxiety level.

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