Predictors of Radiation Therapy Noncompliance in an Urban Academic Cancer Center

Patient compliance for postoperative radiotherapy and survival outcome of women with stage I endometrioid endometrial cancer

“…Definition of patient non‐compliance to radiotherapy varies across the studies from missing multiple fractions to declination . In our study, it is likely that those women who were coded as “refused” for radiotherapy were most likely recommended postoperative radiotherapy by care providers after hysterectomy‐based surgery but did not receive any radiotherapy.…”

“…Various studies have tried to identify the predictors for patient non‐compliance for radiotherapy. In one large‐scale study that examined patients who received external bream radiotherapy, diagnosis of endometrial cancer was reported as a strong predictor for non‐compliance . Low socioeconomic status and prolonged treatment fractions were also found to be the predictors for radiotherapy non‐compliance .…”

“…In one large‐scale study that examined patients who received external bream radiotherapy, diagnosis of endometrial cancer was reported as a strong predictor for non‐compliance . Low socioeconomic status and prolonged treatment fractions were also found to be the predictors for radiotherapy non‐compliance . In a tumor registry study for early‐stage endometrial cancer, having multiple medical comorbidities significantly reduced the likelihood of receiving postoperative radiotherapy .…”

Better compliance with hypofractionation vs. conventional fractionation in adjuvant breast cancer radiotherapy

“…Similar to our study, the statistical analysis identified “prescribed longer radiotherapy courses” as a statistically significant independent predictor of noncompliance. The authors suggested that this finding may provide additional rationale for adopting shortened radiotherapy schedules as a means of improving patient adherence to prescribed therapy [27]. Other predictors for noncompliance identified in the previously cited study were “particular cancer diagnoses,” “low socioeconomic status,” and “treatment during winter months.” “Distance from the patients’ home to the radiotherapy facility” [28–30] and “patients from households that lost family income” [31] have been reported as predictors of noncompliance with the prescribed radiotherapy schedule by other study groups.…”

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy, and Brachytherapy Boost Modalities in Invasive Cervical Cancer: A Study of the National Cancer Data Base

“…5,6 For patients unfit for brachytherapy, noninvasive alternative modalities are recommended. 7 Advances in radiation therapy including real-time image-guided radiation therapy and patient immobilization have translated into stereotactic body radiation plans that are dosimetrically similar to and in some cases superior to brachytherapy.…”