Three media presentations for patients receiving radiation therapy

A set of three media presentations was designed to increase knowledge about the procedures, side effects, and common emotional reactions of patients to radiation therapy. The media presentations are the primary component of the cognitive intervention being evaluated in a large research project comparing cognitive and affective nursing interventions for reducing stress during radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer. Content for the presentations was developed through extensive literature review, examination of existing materials, and consultation with radiation oncologists, nurses, and patients. Learning goals were then established for each presentation. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the media presentations in providing critical information was accomplished with an experimental study of 36 patients randomly assigned to experimental and control groups who completed an orally administered questionnaire either before or after viewing a presentation. Results showed statistically significant differences for all three presentations. The findings support the need for more patient education during radiation therapy.