Pediatrics & Therapeutics
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0665
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2161-0665
+44 1478 350008
Brittany Smith
St. Lukes Radiation Oncology Network, Ireland
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Pediat Therapeut
The aim of this study was to determine the psychological effects and difficulties that Radiation Therapists (RTs) experience while treating pediatric patients. This study is intended to provide information to assist RTs in their occupation. A questionnaire was created specifically for this study standardized to TOHRCC conditions and methods; and inspired from the limited literature around this issue. The study converged on the reactions of RTs while children received radiation treatment at TOHRCC and the impact on their emotional state around this component of their practice. Due to the sample size, statistical correlations and links between variables were limited. The questionnaire was analyzed based on the answers given by the RTs on the provided Likert scale for each question. The questionnaire showed that gender and age played no major role in the RTs��? ability to cope mentally. Half of the RTs had children themselves; and of these, 66% indicated that having children made it somehow more difficult to cope emotionally with pediatric patients. Other factors include the emotional state of parents or care givers of the affected children and time constraints played a key role in the anxiety they felt during a child��?s treatment. Results from this survey were used to create a new tool describing the cognitive stages in children to help RTs treat pediatric patients in the future.
Email: bsmith822@michener.ca