Abstract Book

S1255

ESTRO 37

value of informed decision-making. The results indicate the need for greater public education regarding the benefits and principles of CCTs to increase future trial accrual. EP-2397 Therapeutic Radiographer follow up for prostate cancer patients. S. Hetherington 1 , K. Crowther 1 , S. Jain 1,2 , D. Mitchell 1 , J. O'Sullivan 1,2 , L. Shum 1 , T. Gilleece 3 1 The Cancer Centre, Radiotherapy, Belfast, United Kingdom 2 Queen's University Belfast, Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Belfast, United Kingdom 3 Ulster University, Therapeutic Radiography- School of Health Sciences, Belfast, United Kingdom Purpose or Objective To examine the impact to both the patient and Oncology review team in extending the role of the Therapeutic Radiographer to undertake follow-up review of prostate cancer patients who have completed a radical course of external beam radiotherapy treatment. Material and Methods A prospective observational study recruited 30 patients attending for routine radiotherapy follow-up. Clinic lists were screened for potentially eligible patients, and information was posted to the suitable patients for consideration of study participation. Eligible and willing patients were consented upon arrival; 1:1 randomisation was performed for review with doctor or therapeutic radiographer. Following review, patients completed a short anonymous structured feedback questionnaire. Waiting times at clinic, at a number of time-points were collected and assessed to provide quantitative information. Information was also collected on the number of patients reviewed by the therapeutic radiographer who subsequently required review by the doctor together with reasons for additional consultation. Results Of the 44 patients identified, 30 were recruited. Average time from scheduled appointment time to departure from clinic was 36mins for both the doctor and therapeutic radiographer. The average length of consultation was 19mins for the therapeutic radiographer and 10mins for the doctor. Average length of wait from scheduled appointment to time taken for review was 17mins for the therapeutic radiographer and 25mins for the doctor. Doctors were required to subsequently review 2 patients who had been randomised for review with the therapeutic radiographer. Questionnaires were distributed to all patients, 2 were not completed. All patients reported confidence in their reviewer, with some variation in the satisfaction of the review, 26/28 patients being most satisfied and 2/28 patients scoring 4/5 on the scale, one reviewed by a doctor and one by a therapeutic radiographer. In terms of preference of reviewer, 23/28 patients had no preference, 2/28 patients preferred to be seen by a doctor and 3/28 patients stated a preference for review with a therapeutic radiographer. Additional comments were encouraged which 13/28 patients provided. Conclusion The results of the study are encouraging, presenting opportunity for further development in a rewarding aspect of the therapeutic radiographers role. Clinical Site Specialist Radiographers are best placed to undertake and implement such a development. Importantly, this study recognises the potential improvements this model

could present in helping to transform our health service in line with UK government recommendations, not only for therapeutic radiographers but through adoption by other Allied Health Professions to help streamline and improve care within their own specific area and improve patient throughput and satisfaction. EP-2398 Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue in Student Therapeutic Radiographers D. Flinton 1 , P. Cherry 1 , R. Thorne 1 , L. Mannion 1 , C. O'Sullivan 1 , R. Khine 2 1 CIty- University of London, Radiography, London, United Kingdom 2 South Bank University, Radiography, London, United Kingdom Purpose or Objective As with other caring professions, therapeutic radiographers gain satisfaction from providing compassionate care to patients and their families, however, they are also at risk for compassion fatigue, and a pervasive negative attitude as a result of caring for others. The balance between compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue which can be described as the “cost of caring” is referred to as the professional quality of life. Objective: To establish the prevalence of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue in student therapeutic radiographers. Material and Methods The study was conducted at the lead author’s institution. Student radiographers in each year of their training were surveyed using a demographic questionnaire and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL). The questionnaire looks at compassion satisfaction (CS), the pleasure derived from being able to work with people who need care and Compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue consists of two subscales, burnout (BO), which looks at exhaustion, frustration, anger and depression and secondary trauma stress (STS), a negative feeling driven by fear and work-related trauma. The survey ran for a period of three years with students being surveyed at the same point in time each year at the end of their final long clinical block which was devoid of any assessments. Results The study recruited 90 student radiographers and indicated that the student body were at risk of STS. Compassion satisfaction remained relatively constant during the training period whereas compassion fatigue levels were elevated in the year 3 compared to year 1. Only a small change was noted in burnout whilst STS showed significant difference between year 1 and year 3 (t=3.48, p=0.001) first years reporting an average score of 18.0 compared to 22.0 in year 3. Although STS increased in both male and female students, only female students showed a significant increase in STS (t=3.17, p=0.002), see although both genders showed a mark increase in this score. Personality traits measure showed no correlation to any of the factors measured, but the level of change did appear to be related to hospital site (Figure 1).