Effect of live video viewing on parents’ satisfaction and anxiety about radiotherapy introduction during radiotherapy for pediatric cancer

Objectives Althoughradiotherapy is an essential component of pediatric cancer treatment, parents of patients are often anxious and stressed before and during treatment. Less information on radiotherapy for childhood cancer and unusual treatment situations can lead parents to have negative perceptions and emotions. Our institute introduced a high-resolution camera and wide-screen live video system in the radiotherapy division to allow parents to view treatment. This study aimed to investigate the effect of this system on parent satisfaction and anxiety about radiotherapy introduction Methods The live video system comprised a high-resolution camera, 100-inch-wide monitor, and no-latency sound module. Parents in the radiotherapy division can view the patient in the treatment room through the monitor implemented next to the control room. This prospective study compared satisfaction and anxiety about radiotherapy introduction before and after live video viewing. Twenty parents whose child underwent radiotherapy were enrolled, and they completed a set of questionnaires—Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and original questionnaires about radiotherapy. Results Satisfactionscores improved significantly after live video viewing (67 ± 30) compared with those before live video viewing (82 ± 21) (p=0.013). Anxiety scores also decreased significantly after live video viewing (50 ± 9) compared with those before viewing (54 ± 11) (p=0.004). On the contrary, trait anxiety-related personality trait scores did not change drastically before and after viewing (48 ± 8.5 vs. 49 ± 7.5) (p=0.419) Conclusion This single-arm prospective study indicates that live video viewing of radiotherapy is effective in improving parents’ anxiety about radiotherapy introduction s. Further large-scale and comparative studies are warranted to generalize the benefit of live video viewing. Althoughradiotherapy is an essential component of pediatric cancer treatment, parents of patients are often anxious and stressed before and during treatment. Less information on radiotherapy for childhood cancer and unusual treatment situations can lead parents to have negative perceptions and emotions. Our institute introduced a high-resolution camera and wide-screen live video system in the radiotherapy division to allow parents to view treatment. This study aimed to investigate the effect of this system on parent satisfaction and anxiety about radiotherapy introduction The live video system comprised a high-resolution camera, 100-inch-wide monitor, and no-latency sound module. Parents in the radiotherapy division can view the patient in the treatment room through the monitor implemented next to the control room. This prospective study compared satisfaction and anxiety about radiotherapy introduction before and after live video viewing. Twenty parents whose child underwent radiotherapy were enrolled, and they completed a set of questionnaires—Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and original questionnaires about radiotherapy. Satisfactionscores improved significantly after live video viewing (67 ± 30) compared with those before live video viewing (82 ± 21) (p=0.013). Anxiety scores also decreased significantly after live video viewing (50 ± 9) compared with those before viewing (54 ± 11) (p=0.004). On the contrary, trait anxiety-related personality trait scores did not change drastically before and after viewing (48 ± 8.5 vs. 49 ± 7.5) (p=0.419) This single-arm prospective study indicates that live video viewing of radiotherapy is effective in improving parents’ anxiety about radiotherapy introduction s. Further large-scale and comparative studies are warranted to generalize the benefit of live video viewing.