A qualitative study exploring patients’ expectations and experiences of the localisation event as part of radiation therapy

Abstract

The radiation therapy (RT) localization event is a temporary, yet significant, process from the perspective of the RT health care team. The significance of RT localization is that before establishing radiation dose planning for the forthcoming RT treatment series, it is important to establish the patient's parameters. These processes then form part of the second phase of the treatment within the cancer continuum framework. To provide effective care, it is important to establish how patients' expectations and experiences are shaped at the point of the localization process. Qualitative research strategy using the phenomenological hermeneutic approach is used to interpret and analyze patients' expectations and experiences before and after the localization process. The findings of this study illustrate the physical tolerance of pain and endurance up to a point when quality of life is compromised; only then does medical assistance becomes a necessity. The participants' tolerance of the system's processes and procedures to the point of localization was of importance because they felt that this could have resulted in a timely treatment process. Although participants wanted to be informed and better prepared for the localization event, it was just another milestone to overcome on the way to the series of RT treatments. They dwell on their everyday life activities but more so their goal to return to normalcy. An exploration of the localization process from the patients' perspective provided insight into how their lived expectations and experiences were shaped, regarding not only the process itself but also the impact it has on their desire to recover.