Evaluating Breast Cancer Patients Modesty During Radiotherapy. A Multicentric Study

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS537 enrolled

Overview

Patients affected by breast cancer undergo radiotherapy with bare chest and can therefore live the moments in which they undress in front of the radiation therapy technologists (RTTs) in charge of their treatment as an extremely embarrassing one. Furthermore, for some of these patients the relationship with their bodies has indeed changed since surgery (i.e. mutilations, scars), particularly for specific age or socio-economic groups. In this context, sub-standard care in maintaining modesty during breast cancer radiotherapy has been reported in literature, even if poorly studied. Aim of this multicentric observational study is to describe how modesty is perceived by patients undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

537

Conditions

Breast Cancer

Interventions

TestBEHAVIORAL

A specific self-test composed by 16 questions , will be administered to BC patients undergoing adjuvant RT.

Eligibility

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion criteria * Patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer * Able to understand and sign informed consent Exclusion criteria * Patients with inadequate linguistic abilities and inability to express informed consent * Patients denying informed consent * Patients receiving palliative treatments * Patients affected by major psychiatric disorders

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Primary aim of this study is to identify patients perception of modesty during RT for breast cancer through the use of a dedicated 16 items questionnaire validated in a Delphi consensus for the purposes of this study

Time frame: 1-5 weeks