Patient-reported perspectives of therapeutic radiographers when undergoing radiotherapy: A European multi-centre study.

INTRODUCTION: Radiotherapy is delivered almost exclusively by therapeutic radiographers/radiation therapist (RTTs). Patient's perspectives of RTTs affect levels of trust and confidence in the profession and can have a significant impact on overall radiotherapy experience. The study reports patients' perspectives of RTTs from their experience of undergoing radiotherapy. Four partner sites collaborated in this research and included Malta, Poland, Portugal, and the UK (lead site). METHODS: A survey was developed to gather information from patients receiving radiotherapy or who had had radiotherapy within the previous 24 months. Participants ranked their responses to 23 statements relating to person-centred care on a 5-point scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Mann-Whitney or Kruskal Wallis tests were applied to test differences in responses to 5 key statements for patient characteristics including gender, age group, diagnosis, country, time spent with RTTs and number of fractions remaining at survey completion. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-seven surveys are included. Patients report a positive perception of RTTs (95.4% agree with 'I feel cared for'). Statistically significant differences in responses were found between gender, diagnosis, country, time spent with RTTs and fractions of radiotherapy remaining. Patients who had more time with RTTs and completed their surveys during radiotherapy had a more positive perception of RTTs. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that sufficient time with RTTs is key to ensuring a positive radiotherapy patient experience. RTTs being attentive, understanding, and informative are most predictive of a positive overall patient experience. Timing of survey completion can influence responses. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: RTT education programmes should incorporate training on person-centred care at all levels. Further research into patient experience of RTTs is warranted.

Observed high incidence of prostatic calculi with the potential to act as natural fiducials for prostate image guided radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: This study aims to quantify the incidence and distribution of prostatic calculi in a population of prostate radiotherapy patients and assess their potential role in prostate image guided radiotherapy (IGRT). METHODS & MATERIALS: A retrospective analysis of trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS), computed tomography (CT) planning and treatment verification cone beam CT (CBCT) scans from radical prostate radiotherapy patients (external beam and brachytherapy) between 2012 and 2014 was undertaken by a single experienced observer. An internationally validated schema from the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data system (PIRADS) was used to map the location of calculi. The association of calculi with patient and disease characteristics was explored. Data was analysed using SPSS (IBM version 22.0) using descriptive statistical methods and logistic binary regression analysis. RESULTS: 389 scan sets from 254 patients were included in the analysis. The overall incidence of calculi was 85% (n = 218) of which 79% (n = 201) were intra-prostatic calculi. The mean number of intra-prostatic calculi was 2 (range 1-10) and the mean size of calculi was 3.7 mm (range 0.5-15 mm). Calculi were most frequently observed in the posterior of the mid-gland (PI-RADs 3p, 9p) and posterior of the apex (PI-RADs 5p, 11p). 99% (n = 135) of CT planning scans with a corresponding CBCT had calculi in the same PIRADs location and all calculi were visible at the last fraction. There was no statistically significant association of calculi and N stage, M stage or Gleason score. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of prostate radiotherapy patients have prostatic calculi detectable on pre radiotherapy imaging. Calculi observed on CT were also detectable on CBCT in 99% of cases and remain visible at the end of treatment. These findings add to the growing evidence base supporting the potential of calculi as an alternative to fiducial markers to aid prostate IGRT.

Erratum to "Observed high incidence of prostatic calculi with the potential to act as natural fiducials for prostate image guided radiotherapy" [Tech. Innov. Patient Support Radiat. Oncol. 9 (2019) 35-40].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.tipsro.2019.01.004.].