Using telehealth to support education of prostate cancer patients receiving radiation therapy

Objectives: Evidence suggests that variable bladder and bowel-filling results in increased prostate motion during radiotherapy.1–3 Furthermore, rapid dose fall off between prostate and adjacent critical structures generates greater susceptibility to small deviations in planned radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to determine if a radiation therapist (RT)-led telehealth consultation prior to CT simulation for prostate cancer patients leads to improved patient bladder/bowel preparation compliance.

Methods: Participants (N = 50) were randomised to receive bladder/bowel preparation information via an information sheet and follow up phone call (standard of care [SOC]) or a telehealth consultation (intervention). The telehealth consultation requires an RT-led video consultation via an interactive web-based platform. Patient compliance to bladder/bowel preparation was captured at planning CT, together with health literacy and patient satisfaction measures.

Results: To date, 18 patients (nine SOC; nine telehealth) have been recruited to the study. One patient withdrew post-consent due to technical difficulties with the telehealth platform. Compliance to bladder filling instructions was equivalent for both patient cohorts (62.5%). Interestingly, rectal filling compliance was present in all SOC participants, compared to 75% of the telehealth cohort. Perceived improvements to bladder/rectal filling requirements and improved patient satisfaction were witnessed in the telehealth cohort.

Conclusion: Telehealth offers a convenient face-to-face alternative to written instructions and may enhance patient understanding and procedural compliance. Our preliminary findings are encouraging. There remains an exciting opportunity to extrapolate this technology beyond prostate cancer and even radiotherapy in the setting of patient education.