Author: Charles D. Bloch, Stephen R. Bowen, Bing-Hao Chiang, Alex Egan, Eric C. Ford, Sharareh Koufigar, Dominic A. Maes, Juergen Meyer, Sharon Pai, Frank Rafie, Rajesh Regmi, Jatinder Saini, George A. Sandison, Marco Schwarz, Bishwambhar Sengupta, Tony P. Wong 👨🔬
Affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, University of Washington, Department of Physics, University of Washington 🌍
Purpose: This study aimed to optimize the strategy and timing of physics consults for proton prostate patients to improve the patient experience and resource utilization in our radiation oncology department.
Methods: 96 prostate patients undergoing proton therapy were surveyed after physics consult had been conducted at either one or two time points: (1) prior to simulation and/or (2) prior to treatment. Survey responses were divided into two groups, corresponding to the first or second consult. Anxiety levels were assessed using the six-item short-form Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Anxiety scores were compared between different frequency and timing of physics consultations groups. Free text patient feedback was grouped and categorized into five themes using machine learning algorithm (K-Means clustering).
Results: Anxiety scores were comparable between first (28.60 ± 8.94) and second (29.75 ± 10.33) consultations (p = 0.59). Similarly, anxiety scores for consultations prior to simulation (30.59 ± 9.93) and prior to treatment (28.04 ± 8.83) showed no significant difference (p = 0.22). Patients identified five key information categories of interest: (1) Radiation Types and Delivery, (2) Treatment Plan and Procedure Details, (3) Mechanism and Effects of Proton Radiation, (4) Proton Beam Generation and Therapy Pathway, and (5) Dosimetry and Risk.
Conclusion: Our analysis revealed no significant differences in anxiety scores based on the timing (before simulation or before treatment) or frequency (before simulation, before treatment, or both) of physics consultations for prostate proton therapy patients. Consolidating the consultation process into a single session, with flexible timing, can enhance the efficiency of medical physicists' time while maintaining its positive impact on patients' anxiety levels. This streamlined approach could provide a foundation for improving patient education and communication strategies in physics consultations for proton therapy.