ESTRO meets Asia 2024 - Abstract Book

S371

RTT – Patient experience and quality of life

ESTRO meets Asia 2024

References:

1. Appalanaido G, Musa M, Chng E, Shukor SA, Chong S, Noor SM, et al. OC-0631 Upfront HDRIBT followed by IMRT for the Definitive Treatment of Tongue SCC. Radiotherapy and Oncology. 2023;182:S520-S1.

219

Proffered Paper

HEROCARE: Holistic Empowerment in Radiation Oncology for Cancer Children and Carers

Shara Wee Yee Lee 1 , Vincent Wan Shun Leung 1 , Jerry Chi Fung Ching 1 , Kelvin Chun Kit Liu 1 , Sam Ying Cheong Chan 2 , Kevin Ka Fai Wong 3 , Helen Ka Wai Law 1 1 Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. 2 Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. 3 Industrial Centre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Purpose/Objective:

In Hong Kong (HK), a significant gap exists in radiation therapy (RT) preparation services tailored for paediatric patients and their carers. This gap contributes to the significant stress associated with the treatment process, which often involves multiple fractionations, necessitates complete immobilisation, and imposes solitude on the patient. Such factors detrimentally affect patient cooperation and the efficacy of treatment. Addressing this critical need, our project, HEROCARE, introduces innovative strategies to support paediatric patients and their carers by leveraging the collective expertise of RT students, radiation therapists, child life specialists, paediatricians, and oncologists. The primary objectives of HEROCARE are to promote engagement and a positive treatment experience for paediatric patients and their carers. Through the development and implementation of a personalised, gamified education workshop, we aim to: • Foster patient and carer empowerment through a supportive, multidisciplinary approach at our hybrid immersive virtual environment (HiVE) • Minimise the necessity for sedation or general anaesthesia (GA) during RT Leveraging the staff-student partnership model, our interdisciplinary team, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital and local clinical oncology centres, has developed a pioneering, personalised educational workshop. Hosted on the conveniently located university campus, each 90-minute workshop welcomes patients, their carers, and relatives to participate on-site. Central to this workshop is the use of the HiVE, which blends mixed reality with actual treatment scenarios for effective rehearsals. This innovative approach ensures patients experience a smooth transition to the real treatment environment. The workshop agenda includes ice-breaking games and storytelling sessions that naturally integrate into ultra-realistic treatment rehearsals. The radiation therapist, who will be performing the actual treatment, facilitates these rehearsals to ensure a smooth transition in the hospital setting. Material/Methods: