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ESTRO 36 2017
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EP-1853 The Role of Radiotherapist in Prospective
Evaluation of Quality of Life of Head-Neck Cancer
patients
D. Debojoyti
1
1
APOLLO GLENEAGLES HOSPITAL, RADIOTHERAPY,
Kolkata, India
Purpose or Objective
Cancer and its subsequent treatment may cause physical,
emotional, and psychological difficulties for individuals.
Quality of life (QOL) indices are as important as the
traditional end points of overall survival, disease free
survival & tumor response in cancer management. QOL is
particularly relevant for patients with head & neck cancer
, because social interaction & emotional expression
depend to a great extent on the structural & functional
integrity of the head & neck region
.
Material and Methods
During the period, June 2012 to June 2013, 33 head & neck
squamous cell cancer patients who received radical
chemoradiotherapy were consented and prospectively
assessed for quality of life score using Europian
Organization for Research & Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)
core Questionnaires version 3(QLQ-C30) and the EORTC
QLQ- H&N35, in any one of three languages (English,
Hindi, Bengali). The score was assessed thrice for each
patient, before start of radical treatment, just after
completion of radical treatment and at the time of first
follow up. Follow up QOL score has not been incorporated
in this report.
Results
There were significant changes in Emotional Function
(mean 71.21 vs 79.04, p=.04, 95%CI -15.53- -.11), Social
Function (mean 81.81vs90.90, p=.05, 95%CI-18.20- .02),
Insomnia(mean 22.61vs32.14, p=.03, 95%CI-18.03- -1.01),
Apetite (mean 34.52vs60.71, p=0.001, 95%CI-40.84- -
11.53) & for Nausea/Vomiting (mean 6.79vs24.69, p=.002,
95%CI-28.55- -7.25).
Conclusion
In accordance with our prospective study of quality of life
of patients head & neck cancer, we found there were no
deterioration of physical & role function & finally it is
remarkable that there was no significant change of global
health. This prospective study demonstrates short term
deterioration of functional as well as symptomatic scale
on the other side we also
wanted to seems here, the
important role of radiotherapy technologist in quality of
life of cancer patients. We thought every radiotherapy
technologist should a positive part to collect the EORTC C-
30 & EORTC H&N35 QOL questionnaire before & also at the
day of completion
EP-1854 Information Seeking Patterns of
Patients/Carers and Satisfaction with Web-based
Resources
A. Craig
1
, D. Dunne
1
, C. Gillham
2
1
Trinity College Dublin, Applied Radiation Therapy
Trinity- Discipline of Radiation Therapy, Dublin, Ireland
2
St Lukes Radiation Oncology Network, St. James Hsp.,
Dublin, Ireland
Purpose or Objective
It has been established that a substantial number of
patients and their carers use the internet to obtain
additional health-related information and several studies
have been published analysing the quality of information
available on these websites.
The aim of this research was to (1) ascertain the internet
usage and information seeking patterns of cancer patients
and their carers and (2) identify the possible characteristic
demographics of internet users. A secondary aim was to
determine if these patients and carers are satisfied with
the information available to them on a purpose designed
web-based patient information resource, ‘Website A’
which is affiliated with the Radiation Oncology Network
that they were attending
Material and Methods
A self- designed anonymous questionnaire consisting of
two sections was distributed to patients and their carers
within the three radiotherapy departments of a Radiation
Oncology Network in Ireland. Participants included
patients (n=70) and carers (n=46).
Results
A total of 116 surveys were returned, with 73% of
participants reporting daily internet usage. 52% of these
used the internet for information on general health and
67% of the participants used the internet to search for
information on their current cancer diagnosis. Of those
participants, only 12% used Website A, the website under
evaluation in this study. The remainder were unaware of
its existence. Overall, when seeking healthcare
information, participants rated medical professionals the
most useful, followed by Patient Information Leaflets.
Healthcare Information Websites were rated the third
most useful resource.
Conclusion
Despite medical professionals and information leaflets
remaining the most useful sources for patients, physicians
need to be aware that many of their patients and their
carers are using the internet for information on their
diagnosis. This should be acknowledged by recommending
quality web-based information resources to ensure that
only high quality information is accessed.
Website A offers information specifically tailored to the
treatment and support services available within the
hospitals of this network- an advantage for patients and
carers that cannot be ignored. However, Website A is as
the majority of participants were unaware of this website
efforts to promote and advertise this website are
warranted.
EP-1855 Dedicated Patient Information Cancer
Websites: A Usability Comparison
S. Wall
1
, A. Craig
1
1
Trinity College Dublin, Applied Radiation Therapy
Trinity Research Group, Dublin, Ireland
Purpose or Objective
In recent years, there has been an explosion in the use of
websites for acquiring health information. Usability,
or
the efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction users have
with websites, determines whether users will return to the
site. As information requirements by patients fluctuate
over the course of their disease, health information
websites must be usable to ensure they consistently meet
patient’s information requirements. The purpose of this
study was to investigate the usability of one dedicated
radiotherapy website, and compare this to 3 other popular
patient websites. A secondary aim was to investigate if the
websites complied with readability guidelines published
by
national
and
international
organisations
.
Material and Methods
The data sources for comparison comprised of websites
identified from searching the three most used search
engines, using keywords reflecting most common language
among patients.The LIDA tool, developed for online health
information websites, was used to assess the websites for
accessibility, usability and reliability. Readability and
quality of online written literature was examined using the
HSE/NALA Plain Language Style Guide for Documents
and“Making Your Website Senior Friendly” guidelines
produced by the National Institute of Aging and the
National Library of Medicine in the USA. All data collection
methods were analysed using descriptive statistics, to
allow for comparison between the websites.
Results