RISK ASSESSMENT, SURVEILLANCE AND NON-PHARMACEUTICAL PREVENTION OF ACUTE RADIATION DERMATITIS
PO-2258
Abstract
RISK ASSESSMENT, SURVEILLANCE AND NON-PHARMACEUTICAL PREVENTION OF ACUTE RADIATION DERMATITIS
Authors: Katharina Layer1, Julian Philipp Layer2, Andrea Glasmacher2, Gustavo Sarria2, Alexander Böhner2, Yonah Layer2, Petra Feyer3, Brigitta Baumert4, Anke Schendera5, René Baumann6, David Krug7, Frank Giordano8, Leonard Christopher Schmeel2
1University Hospital Bonn, Department of Radiation Oncology , Bonn, Germany; 2University Hospital Bonn, Department of Radiation Oncology, Bonn, Germany; 3Vivantes Hospital Neukölln, Department of Radiation Oncology, Berlin, Germany; 4Cantonal Hospital Graubünden, Institute of Radiation Oncology, Chur, Switzerland; 5Community Hospital Mittelrhein, Department of Radiation Oncology, Koblenz, Germany; 6St. Marien Hospital Siegen, Department of Radiation Oncology, Siegen, Germany; 7University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Department of Radiation Oncology, Kiel, Germany; 8University Hospital Mannheim, Department of Radiation Oncology, Mannheim, Germany
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Purpose or Objective
Radiation dermatitis (RD) represents the most frequent side effect in radiation therapy (RT). It considerably affects quality of life and may lead to treatment interruptions. Early recognition and prevention is crucial, but both risk assessment and preventive measures are not standardized in clinical routine. We sought to characterize surveillance and non-pharmaceutical preventive management of radiation dermatitis in German-speaking hospitals and private centers.
Material and Methods
We conducted a survey on RD among German-speaking radiation oncologists inquiring for their evaluation of risk factors, assessment methods as well as non-pharmaceutical preventive management of radiation dermatitis.
Results
244 health professionals from academic, non-academic and private centers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland participated. RT-dependent factors were deemed most relevant for RD onset, followed by lifestyle-depending factors, emphasizing the impact of treatment conceptualization and patient education. While a broad majority assesses RD at least once during RT, 59% of participants report RD at least partially subjectively and 17.4% stated to classify RD severity solely subjectively. 83.7% of all participants were unaware of any availability of patient-reported outcomes (PROs). While consensus exists on some non-pharmaceutical recommendations like avoidance of sun exposure and hot baths under RT, others like deodorant usage remain controversial.RD remains a relevant and challenging aspect of clinical routine. Its surveillance is widely lacking methodology and objectivity. Assessment and non-pharmaceutical prevention of RD fall short in evidence- or consensus-based practices. Intensifying outreach in the radiation oncology community is needed to improve practice patterns.
Conclusion
RD remains a relevant and challenging aspect of clinical routine. Its surveillance is widely lacking methodology and objectivity. Assessment and non-pharmaceutical prevention of RD fall short in evidence- or consensus-based practices. Intensifying outreach in the radiation oncology community is needed to improve practice patterns.