2451 - Targeting Educational Needs and Patient Reported Outcomes in Spanish-Speaking Latino/a Radiation Oncology Patients

Purpose/Objective(s): Patient education has been shown to improve several measures of patient reported outcomes (PROs) such as anxiety, treatment satisfaction and health-related quality of life (QOL). Audiovisual education tools are especially effective in improving the health education of minority patients. However, there is a lack of linguistically and culturally appropriate audiovisual tools for Latino/a radiation oncology (RO) patients, the fastest growing patient block in the U.S. In this study, we perform mixed methods research to instruct the development of a linguistically and culturally tailored audiovisual didactic intervention (AVDI), to be used in an educational randomized control trial with Spanish-speaking Latino/a (SSL) patients in RO.

Materials/Methods: We recruited SSL patients to participate in language-concordant focus groups. Focus groups were semi-structured, using a guide that explored knowledge, misconceptions, fears and experiences of radiotherapy (RT). Focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed. Systematic coding of transcripts and content analysis were performed using the immersion-crystallization method--an inductive, iterative approach for identifying specific informational elements/themes most relevant to educating and preparing patients for RT. In parallel, we administered a validated survey to SSL patients to quantify their informational needs across a range of RT knowledge domains. We also performed focus groups with, and administered the informational needs survey to, a RO multi-professional team to gauge their perspectives of SSL patient educational needs.

Results: 20 SSL patients who underwent curative RT for breast and prostate cancer participated in focus groups. Median age was 69 years and 75% were of Caribbean descent. Multi-professional focus groups consisted of 6 radiation oncologists, 2 nurses and 2 RT therapists. Content analysis of prostate cancer focus groups revealed patient: 1) confusion about different curative paradigms; 2) concern about RT impact on sexual function/sense of masculinity; and 3) desire to resume normalcy/QOL quickly. Content analysis of breast cancer focus groups revealed: 1) importance of faith/spirituality; 2) value of emotionally supportive RT therapists during treatment; and 3) importance of explaining expected “sensory” experience prior to RT start (e.g., cold hard couch). Informational needs surveys showed highest need for education regarding RT side-effects and disease course/prognosis in prostate and breast cancer patients, respectively. Information regarding psychosocial impact and services was identified as highest need for both patient groups by multi-professional team.

Conclusion: Mixed methods research identified targetable educational needs in SSL patients preparing for breast and prostate RT. Culturally and linguistically tailored AVDI’s to target educational needs and PROs are being assessed in an ongoing prospective randomized control trial (NCT05351424).