1. Radiation Therapy and Patient Fear 1Katelyn Sternberg | 2Dr
Radiation Therapy and Patient Fear 1Katelyn Sternberg | 2Dr. Robert Rados PhD, MHA 1Radiation Therapy, School of Allied Health, College of Applied Sciences and Arts, Southern Illinois University Carbondale 2Health Care Management, School of Allied Health, College of Applied Sciences and Arts, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Introduction
Radiation therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment method for cancer patients, and with more than 14 million cancer cases presented each year, radiation therapy has the potential to treat 3.5 million people and provide palliative relief for an additional 3.5 million (Jaffray, 2015). Studies have indicated that radiation therapy is associated with anxiety and distress (Dong, 2014) It is estimated that approximately one third of radiation therapy patients have unmet psychosocial needs that can negatively impact the quality of their radiation therapy (Elsner, 2017). A common fear that is shared by many cancer patients is the fear of cancer recurrence, even if radiation therapy appears to be successful (Crist & Grunfeld, 2012). 
Radiation therapists provide psychosocial support for patients, but their role providing this support is not well defined, and some of what cancer patients are experiencing may be overlooked (Elsner, 2017). Many radiation therapy patients are familiar with the side effects that come after receiving treatment such as nausea, fatigue, and redness of the skin. The fear of receiving these side effects along with any other fears that come with having cancer are a great concern. Of the patients receiving radiation therapy 49% experience anxiety or distress (Elsner, 2017). The challenge of patients dealing with fear and anxiety is a real issue, and fear that develops into anxiety is an area that has not fully been addressed (Perusini & Fanselow, 2015)  
Potential Benefits
Every cancer case is unique, and requires a different treatment plan for each patient. Consequently, patients may spend many days per week receiving radiation treatment from their radiation therapist.
Enhancing the value of TLC for patients being treated
Importance of patient conversation/ disclosure to enhance familiarity and to build trust
Improving therapists and patients confidence for deeper communication
Patients will have an easier time fulfilling the requirements of treatment
Research Questions
Does a gap exist between radiation therapists’ idea of patient fear and the patients’ real fear?
Do radiation therapists need additional training techniques to interact with patients and family?
Is there a different between radiation therapists that have personal experience of a family member/ friend that went through radiation compared to those that don’t?
What are the specific fears that patients have?
Proposed Methodology
Survey Research:
Designing a questionnaire that will determine the knowledge gap of the radiation therapists awareness of the patients psychosocial aspects of fear and anxiety and the fears and anxiety of the patient themselves.
Interview with a focus group:
Identifying additional information regarding the fears that patients have. Learning additional techniques that can be done to make the patient feel more comfortable. Gaining further knowledge to develop survey research.
Participants of survey research:
Current radiation therapists
SIU Strong Survivors
Family/ Caregivers
References
Dong, S. (2014). The influence of patient-centered communication during radiotherapy
education sessions on post-consultation patient outcomes. Patient Education and
Counseling,95(3). Retrieved September 12, 2017.
Elsner, K. (2017). Reduced patient anxiety as a result of radiation therapist-led psychosocial
support: a systematic review. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
Jaffray, D., & Gospodarowicz, M. (n.d.). Chapter 14 Radiation Therapy for Cancer
Perusini, J.C., & Franselow, M.S. (2015). Neurobehavioral perspectives on the distinction
between fearand anxiety. Learning & Memory, 22(9),
White, M. (2015). Age and Cancer Risk. NCBI. Retrieved September 15, 2017, Retrieved from