RAPPORT v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
RAPPORT: Reduce Anxiety for Patients with Physicist appOintments in RadioTherapy Radiotherapy patient anxiety: its correlation with treatment setup and reduction with medical physicist consultations
IRAS ID
352379
Contact name
Charlie Martin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UHD
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This research investigates the effect of an additional patient consultation with a medical physicist on radiotherapy patient anxiety. Patients receiving radical radiotherapy at the Robert White Cancer Centre in Dorchester (run by University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust) are eligible to participate. The study is designed as a randomised clinical trial of approximately 60 participants. The study is anticipated to be open for 12 months, with patients randomly assigned to receive the additional consultation or not. No other change to the standard of care will be made. The research is being undertaken as part of the DClinSci for the Higher Specialist Scientist Training (HSST) programme, with funding from NHS England.
It is known that up to half of radiotherapy patients experience heightened anxiety and distress. This can lead to a lower quality of life, worse side effects, and even lower survival. With the general trend of radiotherapy treatment regimes getting shorter, patients have less time to get accumstomed to the daunting environment and machines. Therefore, approaches for a renewed focus on patient-centred care are needed. This research proposes an additional patient appointment with a medical physicist. These staff, traditionally having no direct patient care, take responsibility for aspects ranging from maintenance and calibration of treatment machines, quality assurance and legislative compliance, to treatment planning. They have a unique overview of the radiotherapy pathway, and the proposed intervention will aim to address patients’ questions on technical aspects of their care.REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EM/0066
Date of REC Opinion
15 Apr 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion