ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S5781

RTT - Education, training, advanced practice and role developments

ESTRO 2024

Ethical and regulatory approvals were secured in September 2021.

In depth semi-structured interviews guided by a predesigned topic guide were performed with 7 patients who took part in PREHABS, and brief feedback was given by 7 patients who declined to participate in PREHABS.

The iterative theory of change model was used throughout PREHABS to refine and improve the study.

Results:

61 patients were recruited between September 2021 and October 2022. The majority were female (n=42), mean age 73.1 years (SD 9.36 years).

Preliminary quotes show that patients felt well supported during their radiotherapy treatment, and the additional support that the PREHABS radiographers provided was especially appreciated: “When I had my heart attack and I had a stent, my radiotherapy had to be delayed. The lad [prehabs radiographer] said don’t worry about it, we know what’s going on and we talk to each other. Well, that reassures you, doesn’t it?” (650251) “… I could just ring up and that was most important to me because I live on my own. Knowing that I could phone up, helped me.” (650263) No patients were interviewed who were actively being supported to stop smoking by the PREHABS radiographers, the interviewees who had previously smoked had quit on their own or through local stop smoking services. Interviews with the PREHABS radiographers highlighted that some participants who wanted to quit smoking also had complex psychological needs, and that further upskilling in behavioural change support would have been advantageous. Activity advice and booklets, developed by the PREHABS team were viewed positively: “The information booklet on how to do it and when to do it were great…” (650263) , “I saw Sam and Emma, it was really interesting, it helped me to cope and I got a lot fitter and did more walking.” (650259), as was the referral to pulmonary rehabilitation “I’d not done it [pulmonary rehabilitation] before but found it helpful. I attended all the sessions” (650266). As part of the theory of change process regular discussions took place during the study to reflect and refine the interventions. In particular, how therapeutic radiographers could expand their newly learnt lifestyle change support skills and how this could be implemented more widely in the radiotherapy department to provide this support for all radiotherapy patients. The PREHABS study has broadened the radiographer’s perspective beyond the radiotherapy department, by further understanding the complex comorbidities that lung cancer patients present with, how to motivate patients to positively change their lifestyle, and how the side effects caused by cancer treatment can affect a patient’s ability to change their lifestyle. Therapeutic radiographers already have the patient-focused skills needed to support patients effectively, but they need these skills refining through further training, and protected time and space, to more effectively support patient lifestyle changes during their routine radiotherapy treatment. PREHABS has demonstrated that therapeutic radiographers can increase their scope of practice, and with appropriate supervision, can help patients with complex needs make positive lifestyle interventions. Discussion:

Conclusion:

Therapeutic radiographers, after appropriate training, can deliver lifestyle intervention support within a curative lung cancer radiotherapy pathway. Upskilling therapeutic radiographers to deliver lifestyle support interventions seems to have a positive impact on patient experience.