Abstract Book

S1254

ESTRO 37

EP-2395 smoking cessation package for cancer patients who smoke. Help for self-help P.E. Tødenes 1 , I. Kirkhorn 2 1 Ålesund Hospital, Academic Physics, Ålesund, Norway 2 Helse Møre og Romsdal HF, Cancer departement, Ålesund, Norway Purpose or Objective In Norway it is about 33,000 cancer incidents each year. About 12% of Norway's population is smokers. We do not have national data on how many patients are smokers when they get diagnosed with cancer. The consequences of smoking during treatment are more serious than presumed. This applies to radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. Smoking during treatment may result in a lower effect of treatment, more side effects of treatment, increased chance of recurrence and greater chance of relapse. It is important to provide information and knowledge about this to patients so they have the opportunity to quit smoking before treatment. In 2016, we started the smoking cessation project in our department. A smoking cessation package with information brochure and various smoking cessation products was prepared. The goal was to get cancer patients who are smokers, smoke-free before their start In our region, 1720 people were diagnosed with cancer by 2015. To gain focus on this subject we actively used the media and referred to the latest research to inform the people in our region. A smoking cessation package was prepared. It contains an information brochure about the benefits to quit smoking, a list of smoking cessation courses in our region, smoking cessation products such as nicotine tablets, chewing gum, plasters, etc. The smoking package was made by us and given free to the patients who wanted it. At the first consultation the oncologists asks the patients about their smoking habits. If the patient smokes, the patient receives information about the benefits of quitting. In addition, patients are offered the smoking cessation package. Throughout the course of treatment the patients are followed up with questions about their smoking habits by radiation therapists and The last two years we have handed out about 200 smoking cessation packages and our experience is that a lot of patients are able to quit smoking. Patients are motivated to quit smoking when the information is concrete and objective. Patients need to get information about why it is important to quit smoking during treatment. This is something the patients themselves can do to increase their chances of long-time survival, less side effects and increased quality of life during and after cancer treatment. The project have patient value for cancer patients who smoke because the effect of smoking cessation is high. The project has resulted in a national multi-center project being carried out in collaboration with the Cancer Society and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. This project started in the autumn of 2017 and is a project that will last two years and the results will be presented in 2019 or 2020. Conclusion Additional information and smoking cessation packages used to motivate cancer patients to quit smoking is a project that provides patient value and requires little resources. We are pleased that the project is now expanding and becoming a national project. of cancer treatment. Material and Methods nurses. Results

Electronic Poster: RTT track: Education and training/role development

EP-2396 A survey of attitudes, understanding and interest in participating in cancer trials in Ireland. J. Mulfaul 1 , A. Craig 1 , P. Murphy 2 1 Trinity College Dublin, Discipline of Radiation Therapy, Dublin 2, Ireland 2 Trinity College Dublin, Discipline of Occupational Therapy, Dublin 2, Ireland Purpose or Objective Advancements in cancer treatment are hindered by failure to complete clinical trials because of insufficient patient accrual. 2-3% of all cancer patients participate in cancer clinical trials (CCTs). Negative attitudes towards trials can deter patients from participating. Little is known about the general public’s attitude and understanding of cancer trials in Ireland. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the attitudes, understanding and interest of the general public towards participating in CCTs, and whether attitude or understanding affect interest in participation. Whether interest in participation varies according to treatment modality was also explored. Material and Methods A survey was distributed to public community groups, selected using simple random sampling and convenience sampling. A quantitative survey was developed in hardcopy and online format, to capture three aspects; i) attitude – positive beliefs, safety, personal involvement, information needs, negative expectations, ii) understanding iii) willingness – interest and motivation. Associations between understanding and attitude, understanding and willingness, and attitude and willingness were assessed using Chi-square tests. Reasons for participants' motivation and level of interest in participating in surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy clinical trials were examined using multiple choice questions and open-ended responses. Results In total, 174 complete surveys were returned from eleven community groups. Participants had positive attitudes towards CCTs but had concerns about their safety if personally involved. Having negative expectations of CCTs was significantly associated with no interest in participating in CCTs. 24% understood all basic CCT principles. The most misunderstood concept was randomisation, with 54% failing to understand the need for randomisation in CCTs. Participants with better understanding of CCTs were more interested in involvement. 63% were inclined to participate but needed more information. Over half of participants' motivation to enrol in a trial was to gain personal benefit. Conclusion Participants viewed CCTs positively when considered for society, but were hesitant when considered personally. Interest appeared conditional and participants want to derive personal health benefits if participating. Many indicated inclination to participate but needed more information. Negative perceptions of CCT safety may supersede positive attributes when faced with the decision to participate. Lack of understanding of the process may heighten concerns regarding safety and deter participation in CCTs. The resounding desire for information and the opinion that all patients should be invited to participate in trials, highlights the public’s