Congress Abstracts 2006

203

DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND EVALUATION OF A RADIATION THERAPY PATIENT EDUCATION TOOL. Julie Earle, RN, BSN, RT (T), OCN^®, and Mary Burk, RN, RT (T), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

A cancer diagnosis can be a frightening experience for patients and family. The prospect of receiving radiation can also be frightening, not knowing what to expect and trying to visualize the process on the basis of verbal information. Providing useful visual educational materials may help to reduce anxiety and provide information needed to be well prepared and informed. Anecdotal patient reports and observed anxiety in patients scheduled to have radiation treatment planning, especially those needing immobilization devices for head and neck, or brain radiation treatment, prompted a search of available resources. A minimal amount of information (either in print or video) on the procedure of simulation and construction of immobilization devices was found.

The purpose of developing the brochure is to provide useful information in a format that is easily understood. A follow up patient survey was developed and will be completed. The purpose is to gather information on the satisfaction of the patient on the timeliness and content of the booklet. The process of the development from inception to completion will be outlined in the poster as well as the evaluation of the patient satisfaction survey.

A convenience sample of 30 patients having completed simulation and in the first to second week of radiation treatments will be asked to complete the survey at the time of their nursing educational visit. Patients that have received the brochure would be asked to provide verbal consent to complete a brief, seven-item questionnaire. Questionnaires will be compiled and evaluated for trends and percentages on responses.

The goal of the survey is to provide insight into the completeness of or need for additional information, based on the trends and percentages of the answers provided by patients to the questions.