Satisfaction Among Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy During The Covid-19 Pandemic
Image credit: Haley PatrickAbstract
Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted practices in oncology to prioritize the safety of this vulnerable group of patients while maintaining necessary treatment delivery. We sought to obtain patient feedback on pandemic-based practices in our radiotherapy department to improve quality of patient care and amend policies as needed. Materials and Methods: We developed a piloted questionnaire which quantitatively and qualitatively assessed patients’ pandemic-related concerns and satisfaction with specific elements of their care. Adult patients who were treated at our centre between March 23rd and May 31st, 2020, had their initial consultation via telemedicine, and received at least 5 outpatient fractions of radiotherapy were invited to complete the survey by telephone or online. Relative frequencies of categorical and ordinal responses were then calculated. Results: One hundred ten eligible patients were identified, of which 53 (48%) responded: 32 patients by phone and 21 patients online. Eighteen participants (34%) admitted to feeling anxious about hospital appointments, and only five (9%) reported treatment delays. Forty-eight patients (91%) reported satisfaction with their initial telemedicine appointment. The majority of patients responded positively to specific pandemic practices and admitted that healthcare workers took appropriate precautions, making them feel safe. Patients who were initially anxious about coming to hospital reported experiencing less anxiety after several visits. Overall, all 53 patients (100%) reported being satisfied with their treatment experience during the pandemic. Conclusions: Patients have responded positively to the pandemic-related policies in our radiotherapy department. Patient feedback is needed to provide the highest quality of patient care as we adapt to the current reality.
Haley M. Patrick
PhD Student
John Kildea
Associate Professor (tenured) of Medical Physics
