Patients' and Radiographers' Experiences and Views of Comfort Management in Radiotherapy

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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A qualitative study exploring patient experiences of comfort during radiotherapy and radiographers' views of managing patient comfort during the delivery of radiotherapy

Detailed Description
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Patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment for cancer frequently express their feelings of discomfort during the procedure, especially those who require radiotherapy with extended treatment times. This problem was explored by informal questioning of patients who revealed that this is a problem and causes distress and discomfort but that it was being accepted as being part of the treatment. In healthcare, several interventions have been used to improve the comfort of patients. In radiotherapy, there have been examples where positioning or relaxation has improved the patient's comfort. Literature searches have revealed some comfort interventions that can be used during radiotherapy treatment which may be possible interventions. With the consent of the patient, it is intended to establish the patients' experience and views of comfort and comfort management during radiotherapy. Radiographers' experiences and views of managing patient comfort during radiotherapy will also be explored. It will also be essential to explore what would be the most ideal solution to comfort management, or how comfort could be improved, from the perspective of both patients and radiographers.

Official Title
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A Qualitative Study Exploring Patient Experiences of Comfort During Radiotherapy and Radiographer Views of Managing Patient Comfort During the Delivery of Radiotherapy

Conditions
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Cancer

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients: diagnosed with a malignancy; aged over 18 years owing to different treatment options for children and young adults; recently referred for radiotherapy, currently receiving treatment or had had radiotherapy within the previous 3 months; treatment delivery time exceeding 10 minutes (the time the patient is immobilised on the radiotherapy couch). Therapeutic radiographers: practicing Therapeutic radiographers; administering radiotherapy with treatment delivery times exceeding 10 minutes per radiotherapy treatment session (the time the patient is immobilised on the radiotherapy couch). Exclusion Criteria: Patients: patients with treatment delivery time below 10 minutes; unable to communicate in English. Therapeutic Radiographers: student Therapeutic radiographers, no more than two radiographers from the same radiotherapy department.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Patients<br>Patients with a diagnosed malignancy who have been referred for radiotherapy with extended treatment time (>10 minutes) | |
| Radiographers<br>Radiographers from radiotherapy departments in the UK who deliver radiotherapy | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Experiences of comfort during radiotherapy - qualitative (non-standard outcome measure) | This is qualitative research and the outcomes are derived from transcribed interviews analysed thematically generating codes, themes and sub-themes of patient and radiographers lived experiences of comfort during radiotherapy. | Duration of radiotherapy and up to three months after | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Radiotherapy, Experiences, Comfort management, Patients, Radiographers