ESTRO 2025 - Abstract Book

S4127

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

ESTRO 2025

patients. Traditional communication methods may not adequately address these emotional and psychological challenges. Furthermore, the introduction of an MRI-only simulation workflow and the increased complexity of treatment techniques, such as radiosurgery, necessitate greater patient effort. Hypnotic communication presents a potential alternative by employing focused attention and relaxation techniques to enhance the patient experience. This study aims to evaluate the clinical implementation of hypnotic communication techniques during radiotherapy workflow, assessing their effectiveness in procedures such as venous access, immobilization mask fitting, MR (Magnetic Resonance) simulation, and treatment delivery. Material/Methods: A cohort of 40 patients undergoing radiotherapy from March 2023 to the end of September 2024 was assisted using this communication approach. Among them, 34 patients underwent MR simulation and 23 were simulated with an immobilization mask. The disease sites treated included 60% head and neck and brain tumors, 30% prostate cancer, and 10% breast tumors. Patients with symptoms of anxiety and claustrophobia were offered hypnotic techniques. The protocol inlcuded guided imagery, relaxation scripts, and tailored suggestions. Six staff members, four nurses and two radiotherapy technologists (RTTs) received specialized training. Initially, the nursing staff implemented the technique in the outpatient clinic, followed by its application by RTTs during simulations and treatments. Results: Among the 34 patients analyzed, all but one patient were able to complete the MR simulation (97%). All other patients who received hypnotic communication experienced significantly lower levels of anxiety and lower perception of pain, enabling them to complete all procedures with a 98% success rate. Only three patients (7%) required additional anxiolytic medication. Eleven patients (28%) had previously made unsuccessful attempts at MR. Notably, some patients reported higher levels of satisfaction compared to previous experiences, without experiencing symptoms such as excessive sedation, daytime sleepiness or confusion, as assessed by hospital satisfaction questionnaires. Conclusion: The integration of hypnotic communication techniques in the radiotherapy workflow can improve patient comfort and satisfaction by reducing patient anxiety and better controlling claustrophobia. This implementation has fostered the creation of an interdisciplinary team that can support patients during their course of treatment. We plan to implement additional assessment tools, such as the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scale, for a more comprehensive assessment of anxiety levels.

Keywords: hypnosis communication, MR simulation, imagery

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Poster Discussion The future of breath-hold in radiotherapy: Using 60% Oxygen to improve treatment efficiency Sofia Parveen 1 , Mark Ramtohul 1 , Anjali Zarkar 1 , Stuart Green 1 , Michael J Parkes 2 , Tom H Clutton-Brock 3 , Jasdeep Bhogal 4 , Jenny Sherriff 4 , Andrea M Stevens 4 , Sundus Yahya 4 , Daniel Henderson 4 1 Radiotherapy Physics, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom. 2 Radiotherapy, Universitair Medische Centra, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 3 Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom. 4 Oncology, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom Purpose/Objective: Managing breathing motion is essential in radiotherapy to minimize irradiation of nearby organs. Deep Inspiration Breath Holds (DIBH) have been used for over 2 decades, typically achieving 25-second breath holds with room air. However, challenges related to patient compliance, comfort, and treatment duration remain. Our previous work