ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S5553

RTT - Patient care, preparation, immobilisation and IGRT verification protocols

ESTRO 2024

Urology referrals for TURPs (transurethral resection of the prostate) and incontinence care, Smoking cessation services, alcohol addiction support, Macmillan counselling etc. Allowing for an increasingly patient centred service.

Material/Methods:

A prospective audit of the number of patients who failed their first planning CT was made over 4, 2 month periods of time. In 2020 (just prior to Covid Working conditions), in 2021 (during Covid working conditions and fewer prostate patients), in 2022 (just prior to the initiation of the new pre-habilitation service) and in 2023 (after 6-9 months) of the new role. Once the service was established, a prospective re-audit was carried out looking at the number of failed initial CTs, the number of patients who has their CT on the same day and the number of patients who needed to return for a repeat CT on a different day.

Results:

Since this service was started there has been a reduction in the number of patients failing their first Planning CT. Approximately 90% of prostate/ prostate and node patients are now being scanned successfully in one visit and only 10% are returning for a second visit since the implementation of the Rad-Led Prehabilitation clinic. Only 77.6% of patients were scanned in one visit just prior to the implementation of the Radiographer-led Prehabilitation role. The number of fails was less during the Covid working conditions due to the fact that there were fewer prostate patients coming for Radiotherapy (as their first definitive treatment was Hormone therapy for a while to reduce patient input through the department during the challenging working conditions). However, since the roles implementation, the number of fails have reduced again despite the increasing patient numbers.

The reason for failed CT planning scans (ie. bladder or bowel related) allowed for the Prehabilitation team to cater the service according to patient needs.

Conclusion:

With an increasing rate of Prostate Cancer diagnosis and referral for Radiotherapy treatment, Oncology centres need to optimise capacity on their Planning CT schedules and treatment machines. Minimising the number of patients needing to have more than one attempt at their planning CT will help ease some pressure of the service. A dedicated team supporting men to understand and manage their bladder and bowel function prior to treatment and instigating intervention, when necessary, before they attended for their first visit has helped reduce the number of repeat visits to the Planning CT.

Having a dedicated Prehabilitation team in Radiotherapy can help to increase efficiency of the service and patient satisfaction. It also allows for increasing integration of Multi-disciplinary services in prostate cancer care.

With the success of this role, branching Prehabilitation efforts for other Pelvic Radiotherapy sites is the next step to continue on the path of patient-centred and efficient radiotherapy within the Kent Oncology Centre.