ESTRO 2023 - Abstract Book

S439

Sunday 14 May 2023

ESTRO 2023

and 60% believe that additional support should be given to patients referred for PT care. A graphical representation of the answers was reported in Table 1.

Conclusion There are relevant differences among European countries in supporting patients referred to PT in their logistic and economic challenges. Further efforts should be made by HNSs and PT facilities to reduce the risk of inequities in access to cancer care with protons MO-0559 The effectiveness of an educational intervention on young adults’ perception of radiation therapy T. O'Donovan 1 , K. Murphy 1 , A. Devine 1 , P.M. McEntee 1 , P.A. Barry 1,2 , D.A. England 1 1 University College Cork, Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, Co. Cork, Ireland; 2 Cork University Hospital, Radiation Oncology, Co. Cork, Ireland Purpose or Objective With more than half of all cancer patients receiving radiation therapy (RT) as part of their treatment, promoting its importance is pivotal. This study investigates if an educational intervention may alter healthy young adults’ perception of RT as a treatment and a career. Materials and Methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted in two Irish all-female secondary schools. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires were designed and distributed to 5th-year (n=58) and 6th-year students (n=32) to evaluate the impact of two educational videos. Students were aged between 16-18 years old. The first video focused on RT as a treatment, and the second on the educational pathway to becoming a radiation therapist (RTT). Ethical approval was obtained from the University College Cork’s (UCC) Social Research Ethics Committee (SREC). Due to the age of the participants’ consent was obtained from both the student and parent/guardian. Results Most participants (93%, n=84) improved their knowledge by at least one point (out of 10). Participants’ initial understanding of the difference between diagnostic radiography and RT was low, with 18 (20.2%) students stating, they knew the difference. This increased to 79 (88%) at post-intervention stage (p<0.001). Pre-intervention, five (5.6%) participants stated they had considered RT as a career; post-intervention, this increased to 31 (29.6%; p<0.001). Conclusion The intervention successfully increased the cohort’s awareness and knowledge of RT as a treatment and potential career pathway. The results highlight the importance of educational interventions. It forms a basis for future research to explore whether early educational intervention would improve RTT recruitment and attrition rates within degree programs. MO-0560 A new index for pain management shows that patients are referred too late to palliative radiotherapy C.M. Donati 1 , E. Nardi 2 , A. Zamagni 1 , G. Siepe 3 , C. Malizia 4 , F. Cellini 5 , A. Di Rito 6 , M. Portaluri 6 , C. De Tommaso 7 , A. Santacaterina 8 , C. Tamburella 8 , R. Di Franco 9 , S. Parisi 10 , S. Cossa 10 , V. Fusco 11 , A. Bianculli 11 , P. Ziccarelli 12 , L. Ziccarelli 12 , D. Genovesi 13 , L. Caravatta 13 , F. Deodato 14 , G. Macchia 14 , F. Fiorica 15 , G. Napoli 15 , M. Buwenge 16 , R. Rossi 17 , S. Cammelli 1 , M. Maltoni 18 , A.G. Morganti 1 1 Radiation Oncology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine-DIMES, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; 2 Medical Statistics, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; 3 Radiation Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; 4 Nuclear Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; 5 Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimento Universitario Diagnostica per immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Rome, Italy, Istituto di Radiologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; 6 IRCCS Istituto Tumori, "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy; 7 General Hospital, "Perrino", Brindisi, Italy; 8 U.O. di Radioterapia, AOOR PAPARDO PIEMONTE, Messina, Italy; 9 S.C. di Radioterapia, dell’Istituto Nazionale Tumori Pascale, Napoli, Italy; 10 Radioterapia, Opera di S. Pio da Pietralcina, Opera di S. Pio da Pietralcina, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; 11 IRCCS, CROB, Rionero In Vulture, Italy; 12 U.O. Radioterapia Oncologica, S.O. Mariano Santo, Cosenza, Italy; 13 Radioterapia, Università degli Studi G. D’Annunzio, Chieti, Italy; 14 Radiotherapy Unit, Gemelli Molise Hospital, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Campobasso, Italy; 15 U.O.C.di