Modern Educational Methods to Present Complex Treatment Options and Associated Logistics for Patients Considering Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Categories (click each to see list of all clinical trials associated with that category): GU (ONC), Radiation Oncology (RADONC)
Current Status: Open
Phase: N/A
Principal Investigator: Baine, Michael
Summary
The aim of the present study is to track the use of current and add-in modern educational methods, including but not limited to verbal, auditory, written, technology-based, and/or multi-media, used to present complex treatment options and associated logistics for patients considering radiation therapy for prostate cancer. The educational offerings are standard-of-care in the clinical setting. These tools were developed within the Department of Radiation Oncology and include an introduction to general radiation therapy, individualized treatment options based on NCCN risk grouping and specific clinical scenarios, and timing/logistics surrounding options for men considering primary or salvage radiation therapy for prostate cancer. This protocol will assess overall patient satisfaction and understanding of treatment options throughout the research study, and the questionnaire will indicate the education session type used for the initial consult visit. Furthermore, as a secondary endpoint, alterations of clinic workflow, including time spent with the medical provider and total clinic room time, will be tracked by the clinical education session type.
The Department of Radiation Oncology at UNMC and Ne Medicine has developed a set of patient-accessible tools to introduce general radiation therapy, individualized treatment options, and timing/logistics surrounding available options for individuals with a prostate considering primary or salvage radiation therapy for prostate cancer. The purpose of the present study is to assess overall patient satisfaction and their understanding of treatment options available to them in Radiation Oncology and for the department to evaluate the clinical education method used. With
the intent to understand if the educational methods available for use with standard-of-care are meeting the desires of radiation therapy patients and to help enhance provider communication and understanding while also assessing alterations in clinic workflow, including time spent by the medical provider in the room, total time clinic room is occupied during prostate consults, and need for further informational follow-ups determined by the use of the various clinical, educational interventions.
To date, these interventions have been specifically tailored to patients diagnosed with prostate cancer as this
represents one of the most complex sets of discussions regarding treatment options that exist in our clinic, thus
increasing the clinical need for such interventions, and with plans for this to serve as a pilot population from which
future similar interventions can be developed to serve a greater patient population eventually.