ESTRO 2023 - Abstract Book

S438

Sunday 14 May 2023

ESTRO 2023

surveyed, patients most frequently show fear, anxiety and nervousness, which progressively decrease until the day of the first treatment (4 patients were afraid previous to the first visit, 3 previous to the CT-simulation and none previous to the treatment/ 3 patients had anxiety prior to the first visit, 1 prior to CT-simulation and none prior to treatment/ 4 patients had nervousness prior to the first visit, 3 prior to CT-simulation and 2 prior to treatment). According to the children's evaluation, 75% were calm before the first consultation and showed an improvement of up to 87.5% prior to the simulation. Two patients required anaesthesia on the day of the CT-simulation, but all of them were finally treated without anaesthesia.

Conclusion A 360-degree video tour using a virtual reality system helps to reduce children's discomfort before radiotherapy treatment. The reduction of fear, anxiety and nervousness in children can contribute to decrease the need of sedation for treatment. MO-0558 Patients’ needs in Proton Therapy: a survey among 10 European Facilities G.C. Mazzola 1 , L. Bergamaschi 1 , C. Pedone 1 , M.G. Vincini 1 , M. Pepa 1 , M. Zaffaroni 1 , S. Volpe 1 , J. Doyen 2 , P. Fossati 3 , K. Haustermans 4 , M. Høyer 5 , J.A. Langendijk 6 , R. Matute 7 , E. Orlandi 8 , H. Rylander 9 , B. Rombi 10 , E. Troost 11 , R. Orecchia 1 , D. Alterio 1 , B.A. Jereczek-Fossa 1,12 1 European Institute of Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Milan, Italy; 2 Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Radiation Oncology, Nice, France; 3 MedAustron Ion Therapy Center, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Wiener Neustadt, Austria; 4 PARTICLE proton therapy center, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; 5 Danish Centre for Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; 6 University Medical Center Groningen, Radiation Oncology, Groningen, The Netherlands; 7 Centro de Protonterapia Quironsalud, Radiation Oncology, Madrid, Spain; 8 Italian National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy, Radiation Oncology, Pavia, Italy; 9 Skandionkliniken proton facility, Radiation Oncology, Uppsala, Sweden; 10 Proton Therapy Center, Radiation Oncology, Trento, Italy; 11 Institute of Radiooncology - OncoRay, Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Rossendorf, Germany; 12 University of Milan, Oncology and Emato-Oncology, Milan, Italy Purpose or Objective The number of Proton Therapy (PT) facilities is still limited worldwide, and the access to treatment could be characterized by patients’ logistic and economic challenges. Aim of the present survey was to assess the support provided to patients undergoing PT across Europe. Materials and Methods Through a personnel contact, an online questionnaire (62 multiple-choice and open-ended questions) via Microsoft Forms was distributed to ten European PT centres. The questionnaire consisted of 62 questions divided into six sections: i) personal data; ii) general information on clinical activity; iii) fractionation, concurrent systemic treatments and technical aspects of PT facility; iv) indication to PT and reimbursement policies; v) economic and/ or logistic support to patients vi) participants agreement on statements related to the possible limitation of access to PT. A qualitative analysis was performed and reported. Results From March to May 2022, all ten involved centres completed the survey. Nine centres treat between 100 and 500 patients per year. Paediatric patients account for 10-30%, 30-50% and 50-70% of the entire cohort for 7, 2 and 1 centres, respectively. The most frequent tumours treated in the adult population are brain tumours, sarcomas and head and neck carcinomas; in all centres, the mean duration of PT is longer than 3 weeks. In 80% of cases, the treatment reimbursement for PT is supplied by the respective country’s Health National System (HNS). HNS also provides economic support to patients in 70% of centres, while logistic and meal support is provided in 20% and 40% of centres, respectively. PT facilities offer economic and/or logistic support in 90% of the cases. Logistic support for parents of paediatric patients is provided by HNS only in one-third of centres. Overall, 70% of respondents agree that geographic challenges may limit a patient’s access to proton facilities