Evaluation of a urology specialist therapeutic radiographer implemented radiotherapy pathway for prostate cancer patients

Impact of patient information format on the experience of cancer patients treated with radiotherapy

“… Information Format No. of articles Reference VR 6 [7] , [8] , [12] , [23] , [43] , [59] VR combined 2 [17,32] VR vs. other formats 3 [10] , [38] , [54] Multimedia/video 5 [31] , [75] , [50] , [51] , [52] Written 3 [31] , [68] , [70] Specialised role support 7 [5] , [6] , [28] , [45] , [46] , [61] , [76] Group based 2 [32] , [40] , [69] …”

“…As hospitals become increasingly busier, RT techniques advance, and we move towards personalised information for RT patients, there is an increased demand for specialist roles in supportive care before, during, and after RT [28] , [77] . Studies have highlighted that prostate cancer patients have shown a high level of satisfaction with face-to-face and online interactions with specialist HCPs [5] , [46] . Similarly, breast cancer patients indicated that intervention from a nurse specialist significantly reduced anxiety and depression when compared to patients who received written information alone [76] .…”

“… Circumstances surrounding timing No. of articles Reference Changes in information-seeking behaviour over time 6 [13] , [16] , [21] , [53] , [67] , [74] Waiting times between/during appointments 2 [33] , [34] The efficiency of timing it right (TIR) with information 7 [38] , [46] , [55] , [61] , [65] , [70] , [76] Pre-planning information 8 [5] , [6] , [9] , [16] , [28] , [31] , [50] , [52] Preference of when to receive information 4 [34] , [44] , [57] , [72] …”

“…In recent years there has been consistent development in the complexity of the RT process, increasing the accuracy and precision of RT planning, verification, and delivery [3] , [4] . This has seen an increased need for the RT workforce to prepare patients in advance for what they will experience before, during, and after RT [5] , [6] . For patients, the complexity of the RT process can be physically and psychologically demanding [7] .…”

Images and images: Current roles of therapeutic radiographers

“…Therapeutic Radiographers (TRs) play a pivotal role within radiotherapy and, to maintain efficient radiotherapy delivery, 2,8,12,13 have adapted roles in response to advanced techniques. Such as soft-tissue image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), 14,15,16 stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) 17 as well as non-treatment delivery activities such as site-specialist 18,19 and treatment-review TRs. 2,20,21 Many of these roles fall under advanced clinical practice (ACP), 'a level of practice characterized by a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making', 22 which also could be applied to on-line adaptive Magnetic Resonance Image-guided radiotherapy (MRIgRT).…”