{"title":"Psychological stress associated with skin marking during radiotherapy on breast cancer patients","authors":"Ryohei Yamauchi, Ryoko Ito, Tomoko Itazawa, Fumihiro Tomita, Jiro Kawamori","doi":"10.1016/j.jmir.2024.03.049","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>This study aimed to further understand the psychological distress associated with skin marking during radiotherapy among patients with breast cancer. The potential benefits of skin mark-free radiotherapy were also explored.</p></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><p>The study population included female breast cancer patients scheduled for radiation therapy and skin marking. A 12-item survey was administered, encompassing demographics (age, treatment site and mode, and duration of hospital visits), awareness of skin marking, stress induced by skin marking in various life contexts, and perceived advantages of a skin mark-free alternative. Responses were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The survey was completed by 107 patients, of whom 90 (84%) underwent whole breast irradiation, 15 (14%) received breast/chest wall and supraclavicular lymph node irradiation, and 2 (2%) were unspecified. The common sources of stress were from the presence of skin markings (33%), bathing (41%), clothing selection (25%), and skincare (30%), whereas 17 patients (16%) were not stressed by any of those factors. Meanwhile, 73% of patients reported taking precautions to prevent the skin marks from fading. Most patients (63%, n = 76) expressed preference for a skin mark-free radiotherapy option, with many willing to spend extra finances and time for this.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>A significant proportion of female breast cancer patients experience stress from skin markings in various aspects of their daily lives. A preference for skin mark-free radiotherapy was noted among many patients, that next-generation technologies, such as surface-guided radiotherapy, could alleviate patient stress.</p></div><div><h3>Implications for practice</h3><p>The need for permanent or temporary skin markings in the era of state-of-the-art imaging technology should be reconsidered.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":46420,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939865424001036","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction
This study aimed to further understand the psychological distress associated with skin marking during radiotherapy among patients with breast cancer. The potential benefits of skin mark-free radiotherapy were also explored.
Materials and methods
The study population included female breast cancer patients scheduled for radiation therapy and skin marking. A 12-item survey was administered, encompassing demographics (age, treatment site and mode, and duration of hospital visits), awareness of skin marking, stress induced by skin marking in various life contexts, and perceived advantages of a skin mark-free alternative. Responses were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale.
Results
The survey was completed by 107 patients, of whom 90 (84%) underwent whole breast irradiation, 15 (14%) received breast/chest wall and supraclavicular lymph node irradiation, and 2 (2%) were unspecified. The common sources of stress were from the presence of skin markings (33%), bathing (41%), clothing selection (25%), and skincare (30%), whereas 17 patients (16%) were not stressed by any of those factors. Meanwhile, 73% of patients reported taking precautions to prevent the skin marks from fading. Most patients (63%, n = 76) expressed preference for a skin mark-free radiotherapy option, with many willing to spend extra finances and time for this.
Conclusions
A significant proportion of female breast cancer patients experience stress from skin markings in various aspects of their daily lives. A preference for skin mark-free radiotherapy was noted among many patients, that next-generation technologies, such as surface-guided radiotherapy, could alleviate patient stress.
Implications for practice
The need for permanent or temporary skin markings in the era of state-of-the-art imaging technology should be reconsidered.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences is the official peer-reviewed journal of the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists. This journal is published four times a year and is circulated to approximately 11,000 medical radiation technologists, libraries and radiology departments throughout Canada, the United States and overseas. The Journal publishes articles on recent research, new technology and techniques, professional practices, technologists viewpoints as well as relevant book reviews.