ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S2667

Interdisciplinary - Education in radiation therapy

ESTRO 2024

1. Kouloulias VE, Poortmans PM, Bernier J, et al. The Quality Assurance programme of the Radiotherapy Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC): a critical appraisal of 20 years of continuous efforts. European Journal of Cancer. 2003 Mar 1;39(4):430-7

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Mini-Oral

What is the view of palliative radiotherapy from radiation and pediatric oncologists?

Costanza Maria Donati 1,2 , Rossella Di Franco 3 , Silvia Cammelli 1,2 , Giambattista Siepe 2 , Maurizio Mascarin 4 , Federico Mercolini 5 , Riccardo Masetti 1,5 , Camilla Satragno 6 , Francesco Cuccia 7 , Enrico Pozzo 8,9 , Arcangelo Prete 5 , Alessio Giuseppe Morganti 1,2 1 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum - Bologna University, Bologna, Italy. 2 Radiation Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy. 3 S.C. di Radioterapia, dell’Istituto Nazionale Tumori Pascale, Napoli, Italy. 4 AYA Oncology and Pediatric Radiotherapy Unit, IRCCS Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano, Italy. 5 Pediatric Oncology and Hematology "Lalla Seràgnoli", IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy. 6 Department of experimental medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy. 7 Radiation Oncology, ARNAS Civico Hospital, Palermo, Italy. 8 Pediatric Radiotherapy Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy. 9 Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padua, Padova, Italy

Purpose/Objective:

Palliative radiotherapy (PRT) is a well-established treatment for symptom relief in adults with advanced cancer, but its use in pediatric patients is less common. The Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) and the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP) conducted a national survey to assess the knowledge of radiation oncologists (ROs) and pediatric oncologists (POs) regarding PRT in pediatric cancer patients. The survey aimed to identify potential barriers to patient referral.

Material/Methods:

Two questionnaires were distributed to all Italian departments of Radiotherapy and Pediatric Oncology. The first questionnaire, comprising 13 items, was designed for ROs and focused on their knowledge, utilization, and potential barriers related to PRT. The second questionnaire, consisting of 8 items, was tailored for POs. Both questionnaires aimed to explore the level of knowledge, usage patterns, and perceived barriers regarding PRT. Seventy ROs and 23 POs provided responses.

Results:

Significant differences in responses were observed. Notably, 70% of ROs and 8.7% of POs considered PRT in cases of bleeding or hemorrhage (p<0.05). The knowledge of pediatric PRT was deemed sufficient by 37% of ROs and inadequate by 57%, while among POs, 65% considered it sufficient, and 30% found it inadequate. Specifically, 70% of ROs not dedicated to pediatric oncology perceived their knowledge of pediatric PRT as insufficient (p<0.05). The primary logistic barrier for POs was the distance from the radiotherapy department, whereas for ROs, it was the