ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S5644

RTT - Patient experience and quality of life

ESTRO 2024

Material/Methods:

A pouch called “Ting-Sling” (TS), named after the system creator, was devised. All adult male sarcoma patients referred for radiotherapy to the thigh area, which required the genitalia to be moved away from the treatment beam, were offered an individual TS to be used as an immobilisation device. The TS can be washed, or wipe cleaned. Patient and radiographer experience was evaluated by a five-point Likert scale questionnaire, where a score of 1 indicated poor and a score of 5 indicated excellent experience. Areas evaluated included the overall experience, stability, positioning, putting on, removal, comfort, set-up, confidence of reproducibility and modesty. Any adjustments to the TS made prior and during the treatment were recorded. Descriptive feedback was also collected. Questionnaires were distributed on the first three days of treatment and weekly thereafter.

Results:

Between January and October 2023, ten adult male sarcoma patients received radiotherapy to the thigh area and used the TS to dress the genitalia away from the treatment beam. Seven patients have been reported in this study, three patients did not complete the questionnaires. The first three of the seven patients treated, experienced readjustment of the TS at some point during their course of treatment. Subsequently simplified set-up instructions and minor modification in shape of the TS pouch were implemented. Thereafter no readjustments were required. A total of 307 of 329 (93%) questions were answered by seven patients. The median (range) score for all questions was 5 (3-5) (Figure 1). 98% of questions were scored 4 or 5. No patient scored <3. A total of 18 comments were fed back by four patients. Thirteen of eighteen (72%) comments, written by three different patients, were positive regarding their treatments or TS experience. Of the remaining five comments, two were written by one patient and were non-TS related. Two patients suggested practical sessions prior to treatment would be useful. The remaining comment recommended instruction on how to wear TS.

The majority of patients (6 of 7) managed to “self-dress”. Overall scores of patients experience of the TS and their modesty being preserved were high with 100% scoring ≥ 4.

A total of 289 of 329 (88%) questions were answered by radiographers. Where more than one radiographer answered on one session, scores were averaged. The median (range) score for all questions was 4.5 (2.5-5). 87% of which scored 4 or 5, 12% ≥ 3 < 4 and 1% for <3 (Figure 2). The scores were low at the beginning. A new technique, lack of experience, complex instruction, user error or preferences, readjustment and training were issues identified from the radiographers feedback. After implementing a simplified set-up instruction and minor modification in the TS pouch shape, the scores were ≥ 3. Ease of removing and positioning the TS scores were affected by whether the patients were self-dressed/removal. However, this did not affect the overall radiographer experience and the patient modesty being preserved scores, 88% and 93% of these questions scored ≥4.