Travelling overseas for proton beam therapy: A retrospective interview study
Abstract Introduction Travelling for cancer treatment comes with unique challenges, particularly for a young patient and his or her family. The aims of this study were to (1) gain an understanding of the experiences of families and patients who travelled overseas (OS) from Australia for proton beam...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/jmrs.721 |
| _version_ | 1797211900984950784 |
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| author | Kelly Skelton Peter Gorayski Hui Tee Nigel Anderson Hien Le |
| author_facet | Kelly Skelton Peter Gorayski Hui Tee Nigel Anderson Hien Le |
| author_sort | Kelly Skelton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Travelling for cancer treatment comes with unique challenges, particularly for a young patient and his or her family. The aims of this study were to (1) gain an understanding of the experiences of families and patients who travelled overseas (OS) from Australia for proton beam therapy (PBT) and (2) identify the supportive care needs patients and their families require when living away from home, while having PBT. Methods This was a retrospective, qualitative study using semi‐structured interviews, conducted with participants aged under 25 years and their families who travelled OS for PBT between 2017 and 2020. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel Software, where key themes were identified and coded based on their responses. A total of 17 participants were included in interviews from seven Australian families who travelled to America or Europe for PBT. Results The majority of participants reported a lack of coordination with travel and treatment arrangements prior to arrival OS. Families who stayed in hotel accommodation while OS reported greater feelings of isolation compared with those who stayed in share house‐style accommodation. The acuity of cancer diagnosis played a significant part in patient experience, with those patients requiring the greatest amount of supportive care and availability of service provision at stand‐alone centres reporting a lack of appropriate care provision. Conclusions This study has identified services, accommodation provisions and care coordination requirements that are largely missing from the travel and treatment experience in patients travelling OS for PBT. Future use of consumer‐led working groups or committees in creating models of care for families travelling for PBT treatment could be advantageous, with many families willing to share their experiences and provide support to others who are travelling for PBT. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:33:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c40a16850f7845868bd196ec36f9e540 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2051-3895 2051-3909 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:33:51Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-c40a16850f7845868bd196ec36f9e5402024-04-12T13:55:06ZengWileyJournal of Medical Radiation Sciences2051-38952051-39092024-04-0171S2101810.1002/jmrs.721Travelling overseas for proton beam therapy: A retrospective interview studyKelly Skelton0Peter Gorayski1Hui Tee2Nigel Anderson3Hien Le4Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Adelaide South Australia AustraliaAustralian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Adelaide South Australia AustraliaAustralian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Adelaide South Australia AustraliaUniversity of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria AustraliaAustralian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Adelaide South Australia AustraliaAbstract Introduction Travelling for cancer treatment comes with unique challenges, particularly for a young patient and his or her family. The aims of this study were to (1) gain an understanding of the experiences of families and patients who travelled overseas (OS) from Australia for proton beam therapy (PBT) and (2) identify the supportive care needs patients and their families require when living away from home, while having PBT. Methods This was a retrospective, qualitative study using semi‐structured interviews, conducted with participants aged under 25 years and their families who travelled OS for PBT between 2017 and 2020. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel Software, where key themes were identified and coded based on their responses. A total of 17 participants were included in interviews from seven Australian families who travelled to America or Europe for PBT. Results The majority of participants reported a lack of coordination with travel and treatment arrangements prior to arrival OS. Families who stayed in hotel accommodation while OS reported greater feelings of isolation compared with those who stayed in share house‐style accommodation. The acuity of cancer diagnosis played a significant part in patient experience, with those patients requiring the greatest amount of supportive care and availability of service provision at stand‐alone centres reporting a lack of appropriate care provision. Conclusions This study has identified services, accommodation provisions and care coordination requirements that are largely missing from the travel and treatment experience in patients travelling OS for PBT. Future use of consumer‐led working groups or committees in creating models of care for families travelling for PBT treatment could be advantageous, with many families willing to share their experiences and provide support to others who are travelling for PBT.https://doi.org/10.1002/jmrs.721Oncologyproton therapyradiationradiotherapytravelling for cancer treatment |
| spellingShingle | Kelly Skelton Peter Gorayski Hui Tee Nigel Anderson Hien Le Travelling overseas for proton beam therapy: A retrospective interview study Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences Oncology proton therapy radiation radiotherapy travelling for cancer treatment |
| title | Travelling overseas for proton beam therapy: A retrospective interview study |
| title_full | Travelling overseas for proton beam therapy: A retrospective interview study |
| title_fullStr | Travelling overseas for proton beam therapy: A retrospective interview study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Travelling overseas for proton beam therapy: A retrospective interview study |
| title_short | Travelling overseas for proton beam therapy: A retrospective interview study |
| title_sort | travelling overseas for proton beam therapy a retrospective interview study |
| topic | Oncology proton therapy radiation radiotherapy travelling for cancer treatment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/jmrs.721 |
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