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Julius A, Croke J, Giannopoulos E, Manhertz JA, Lawrie K, Quartey NK, Papadakos J. Exploring Brachytherapy Discharge Educational Needs of Gynecological Cancer Patients. JOURNAL OF CANCER EDUCATION : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER EDUCATION 2022:10.1007/s13187-022-02249-6. [PMID: 36512253 DOI: 10.1007/s13187-022-02249-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Brachytherapy (BT) plays a fundamental role in the treatment of gynecological cancers. Patient education for vaginal self-management and dilator use post-BT involves an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals (HCPs) and there is a paucity of post-BT education guidelines. Our objective was to determine the educational needs of gynecological cancer patients surrounding vaginal self-management post-BT and to determine enablers and barriers to the provision of education by HCPs. This cross-sectional study recruited gynecological oncology patients receiving external beam radiotherapy and BT for curative intent. Patients completed a questionnaire to assess their vaginal self-management educational needs, preferred education modality, and desired timing of post-BT education. HCPs were invited to complete a questionnaire to identify enablers and barriers to providing BT education. Twenty patients and 53 HCPs participated. All patients rated each topic as very important/important with information about preventing vaginal stenosis as the most important overall (89%). When asked about topics they addressed during BT education, most HCPs reported that "explaining what vaginal stenosis is and the negative effects of stenosis" was always discussed with patients (N = 37/49, 77%). Barriers to providing post-BT education, including the patients' language and culture, as well as enablers, such as the use of written resources and tools for patients, were identified. Despite a high level of engagement, current education surrounding vaginal self-management post-BT may be inadequate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anet Julius
- Collaborative Academic Practice (CAP), Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jennifer Croke
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Eleni Giannopoulos
- Cancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 585 University Avenue, ELLICSR PMB B-130, Toronto, ON, M5G 2N2, Canada
| | | | - Karen Lawrie
- Cancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 585 University Avenue, ELLICSR PMB B-130, Toronto, ON, M5G 2N2, Canada
| | - Naa Kwarley Quartey
- Cancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 585 University Avenue, ELLICSR PMB B-130, Toronto, ON, M5G 2N2, Canada
| | - Janet Papadakos
- Cancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 585 University Avenue, ELLICSR PMB B-130, Toronto, ON, M5G 2N2, Canada.
- The Institute for Education Research, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.
- The Institute for Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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