ESTRO 2025 - Abstract Book

S4203

RTT - Patient experience and quality of life

ESTRO 2025

first gathered socio-demographic and medico-administrative information, the second focused on evaluating patient satisfaction with various aspects of care, and the third allowed patients to provide comments, observations, and suggestions. Results: the mean age was 55 years. 30 patients were women (60%) and 20 were men (40%). Regarding education, 20 patients (40%) were illiterate, and only 5% had higher education. The majority of participants (80%) were married. Regarding health insurance, 65% of patients were covered, and the majority lived in urban areas (75%). When assessing satisfaction with the initial reception in the radiotherapy department, 72% of patients reported being either very satisfied or satisfied. In terms of staffing, 55% of participants were satisfied with the availability of medical professionals, while 65% were satisfied with the availability of paramedical staff. However, a significant number of patients found the information and communication regarding their treatment lacking. Specifically, 73% of patients indicated that they were not informed about the potential side effects of radiotherapy, and 68% expressed dissatisfaction due to a lack of clarity about the treatment process. Furthermore, 75% of patients voiced the need for psychological support, which was not offered. In terms of physical discomfort, 60% of patients reported experiencing pain related to their condition. Conclusion: This study highlights key areas for improvement in patient care within the radiotherapy department, particularly in the communication of treatment-related information, the management of side effects, and the provision of psychological support. These findings contribute to ongoing efforts in quality assurance and patient-centered care within the National Institute of Oncology. Future evaluations should consider distributing surveys at regular intervals to continuously monitor patient satisfaction and identify areas for further enhancement. Proffered Paper Optimal Health for all patients. RTTs Perspectives on Patient Support in Hypofractionated Radiotherapy: A Qualitative Study Elizabeth L Joyce 1 , Patrick Kierkegaard 2,3 , Helen A McNair 1,4 1 Radiotherapy, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom. 2 Cancer Research UK Convergence Science Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom. 3 Cancer Research UK Convergence Science Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom. 4 Translational Therapeutic Radiography, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom Purpose/Objective: Hypofractionation is transforming radiotherapy, offering shorter regimens with clinical benefits in many tumour sites. However, there is little investigation into the support therapeutic radiographers (RTTs) provide patients undergoing hypofractionated radiotherapy who encounter less opportunities to build rapport and assess patients’ evolving needs. This study investigates RTT’s comparative perspectives of hypofractionation and long-course radiotherapy on providing patient-centred care. Material/Methods: A phenomenological approach was chosen to capture the experiences of UK RTTs treating both long-course and hypofractionated radiotherapy patients to provide depth and subjective insights. RTTs with at least four years clinical experience were recruited using online advertisement and purposive sampling ensured representation across UK NHS regions. Individual, online interviews using a semi-structured guide were performed to obtain rich data whilst allowing expansion on personal experiences. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, verified for Keywords: Radiotherapy, cancer, satisfaction 4049