Measuring Breast Cancer Patients’ Opinion About Radiotherapy with Visual Analog Scale and the Effect of Informative Interview

Abstract

OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to assess breast cancer (BC) patients’ opinion about radiotherapy (RT) with visual analog scale (VAS) and investigate the effect of informative interview by a trained RT techni cian (RTT). METHODS Eighty-one female BC patients treated with curative intent were included in the study. To represent both negative and positive views, VAS was modified and visually enhanced. Patients marked their opinion after initial consultation, after informative interview by an RTT, and finally after the completion of RT. We also asked which treatment modality was the easiest and hardest in their experience. Toxicities were reported according to RTOG CTCAE v4.0. VAS score was measured from 0, where minus axis denotes positive and plus denotes negative opinion. Difference between recordings was measured with paired t-test. RESULTS On the first recording, average opinion was -6.5 mm on VAS. The second recording of -29.4 mm and final recording of -41.1 mm showed positive change. Difference between measurements was significant (p