Beyond Technology: The Impact of Personal Physics Consultation on Patient Anxiety in Breast Cancer Radiotherapy
Abstract
PURPOSE
To compare the effects of technological vs interpersonal psychoeducational interventions in reducing treatment-related anxiety in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This prospective randomized controlled trial enrolled 241 breast cancer patients, randomizing them into three arms: video education (n=51), medical physicist consultation (n=92), and standard care (n=98). The video education group viewed an informational video prior to simulation, while the physicist consultation group received personalized treatment plan explanations before their first treatment. Anxiety levels were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Distress Thermometer (DT) at four timepoints: post-initial consultation, post-simulation, post-first treatment, and treatment completion.
RESULTS
Baseline anxiety scores were comparable across all groups following initial consultation. Medical physicist consultation patients demonstrated significantly lower DT scores after first treatment compared to both video education (p<0.0043) and standard care groups (p<0.0051). While video education and standard care groups showed significant anxiety reduction between first and last treatments through habituation, the medical physicist group maintained consistently lower anxiety levels throughout treatment, suggesting earlier anxiety resolution through interpersonal intervention.
CONCLUSIONS
Direct patient education by medical physicists resulted in more…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 241 participants or records.
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