Abstract CN8
Background
Radiation Therapy (RT) is a common treatment after breast cancer surgery. The high-tech environment and unfamiliar nature of RT can affect the patient’s experience of the treatment. Misconceptions or a lack of knowledge about RT processes can increase levels of anxiety and enhance feelings of being unprepared at the beginning of treatment. Moreover, the waiting time can be long and experienced as meaningless or even life threatening. For successful radiotherapy, the person often needs to be immobilized. A calm, well informed patient might enhance quality of treatment, both from patient and provider perspective. Waiting times can become meaningful instead of meaningless if used wisely for information and preparation for patients and loved ones.
Methods
As a pre-phase to a RCT study was performed for development and testing of the digital information tool, with 30 patients in total (15 women with breast cancer and 15 men with prostate cancer). A digital tool (Digi Do) consisting of a virtual visit to the radiotherapy clinic using VR-glasses and a mobile application with additional information required by patients was tested for patients with breast- and prostatic cancer at the Department of Radiotherapy of a large university hospital in the south region of Sweden. The patients were asked to participate and were divided into one control group (n=15) and one intervention group (n=13). The tool was developed in a co-creative process together with patients and staff at a radiotherapy clinic. Results from the pilot will help improving the tool and evaluation leading to a RCT including more diagnosis and hospitals where patients have to travel far for radiotherapy.
Results
The sample in the intervention group consisted of 5 women and 8 men, aged between 57-75 years (Mean 70 years). The results from the survey of the pilot will be presented together with experiences and results from the co-creative development process of the digital tool.
Conclusions
This is a new way to inform and prepare patients and loved ones about RT and possible side-effects. By involving patients and staff in the co-creative development process of this digital tool, needs and demand for information in this form was given attention.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Maria Brovall.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.