Application of multimedia information technology on precision radiotherapy for patients with head and neck malignant tumors / 中国辐射卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of multimedia information technologies on precision radiotherapy of head and neck malignant tumors (HNT). Methods A total of 96 patients with HNT recruited from 2016 to 2019 were randomly assignedto group A and group B with the same planning methodand therapists/technicians. Conventional and multimedia information technologies were respectively used in group A and group B for medical science popularization, individualized education, and doctor-patient communication before radiotherapy planning and positioning. Medical compliance, radiotherapy responses, setup errors, and machine occupancy time were investigated. Results Medical compliance was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in group A (96.5%) than in group B (73.8%). Skin acute radiation reaction was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in group A than in group B. Three-dimensional absolute setup errors were 0.69 ± 0.29 mm, 0.97 ± 0.69 mm, and 0.79 ± 0.47 mm in group A, which were significantly lower than 1.39 ± 0.81 mm, 1.87 ± 1.19 mm, and 2.50 ± 0.99 mm in group B(P < 0.05). Traditional three-dimensional setup errors were 0.73 ± 0.39 mm, 0.51 ± 0.69 mm, and 0.74 ± 0.17 mm in group A, which were significantly lower than 1.32 ± 0.76 mm, 1.89 ± 1.21 mm, and 1.37 ± 0.57 mm in group B (P < 0.05). Planning time was 145.15 ± 28.45 sin group A, which was significantly lower than 240.38 ± 50.45 sin group B (P < 0.05). Positioning time was 115.15 ± 18.45 s in group A, which was significantly lower than 173.38 ± 24.45 sin group B (P < 0.05). Conclusion The application of multimedia information technologies inmedical science popularization, individualized education, and doctor-patient communication forpatients who received precision radiotherapy for HNT can significantly increase patient compliance, alleviate acute radiation reactions, reduce setup errors, and shorten the machine occupancy time of planning and positioning.