PATIENTS NEEDS UNDERGOING BREAST RADIOTHERAPY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MOBILE APPLICATION (RADIOSA)
PO-1206
Abstract
PATIENTS NEEDS UNDERGOING BREAST RADIOTHERAPY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MOBILE APPLICATION (RADIOSA)
Authors: Paolo Matteucci1, Edy Ippolito1, Sonia Silipigni1, Claudia Talocco1, Gian Marco Petrianni1, Vincenzo Palumbo1, Elena Onorati1, Carlo Greco1, Vera Cirnigliaro1, Michele Fiore1, Sara Ramella1
1Campus Biomedico, Radiotherapy, Rome, Italy
Show Affiliations
Hide Affiliations
Purpose or Objective
Breast cancer requires integrated multimodal treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Monitoring of symptoms during treatment can help to identify those patients who needs medical interventions. Use of mobile Apps in the radiotherapy-oncology field gives the possibility of daily monitoring and supportive care for patients undergoing breast radiotherapy. A few mobile Apps are specific to breast cancer and to best of our knowledge no App is specific for patients treated with radiotherapy. The aim of this survey is to test the acceptability and satisfaction related to the development of a dedicated mobile application (RADIOSA project: Mobile Application on Breast Radiotherapy) among breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
Material and Methods
Qualitative questionnaires were administered from May 17, 2021 to June 4, 2021 on a sample of female patients undergoing breast adjuvant radiotherapy treatment to understand which aspects could be most useful for them to be included in the new mobile App.
Results
30 patients completed the questionnaires (median age 64 years; range 41-88 years). All patients (100%) welcomed the proposal for dedicated mobile App. Of these, 90% of patients preferred the possibility of requesting an emergency visit, to view tutorials on the management of local side effects such as skin toxicity, to perform physiotherapy exercises to facilitate correct positioning of the arm during radiotherapy. 87% of patients were in favor of FAQ area and the possibility of breast massage tutorials, while 80% of patients appreciated the option of following a calendar with planning of all radiotherapy sessions. Instead, 67% of patients showed no interest in receiving notifications regarding the timing of cream application, while 57% patients showed little interest in viewing tutorials on how to hold their breath for those radiotherapy sessions involving the technique of voluntary inspiration (however among these patients, only 14% of patients was receiving breast hold radiotherapy). Finally, only 7% patients provided their suggestion in the free section of survey, asking to insert a dedicated section for psychological support.
Conclusion
"RADIOSA" project was welcomed by all patients. After this preliminary phase, we have decided to add a section for the request of psychological support in the mobile App. We are now proceeding to develop the application with the goal of creating the simplest and most intuitive interface as possible.