Explaining the Invisible Using the PEARL System

NCT03025633 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 155

Last updated 2019-07-15

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Radiotherapy uses high doses of x-rays directed at tumours to kill them, an unfortunate side effect is healthy surrounding tissue will receive some of the x-ray dose and is damaged. Approximately 22% of radiotherapy patients receive treatment to cure prostate cancer. The technique used requires patients to maintain full bladder and empty bowel because they are next to the prostate, the aim of radiotherapy planning is to minimise the radiation dose received to healthy organs and tissues as this will reduce side effects. PEARL is commercial interactive PC software that shows realistic and functional 3D models of Linac's (machines that deliver radiotherapy treatment). Using PEARL it's possible to display realistic patient treatments including how an individual would be laid on a treatment couch and how the machine will move and sound during treatment. Additionally PEARL provides the opportunity to look inside the body to view internal anatomy and show where the radiotherapy treatment is directed.

Information prior to treatment in radiotherapy is normally given verbally one to one. The investigators believe this information can be more easily understood if PEARL is used in conjunction with this verbal exchange. PEARL gives visual and audio representation of the treatment experience, and demonstrates the reasons behind required preparations.

Research aim is to demonstrate patients who receive information using PEARL have greater understanding, reduced anxiety and reduced radiation dose. This will be tested using two groups of patients receiving radiotherapy to the prostate. Group A - Verbal information, Group B - Verbal information and PEARL demonstration. Data collection is via patient questionnaires and review of Cone Beam Computer Tomography (CBCT) images that are taken prior to each radiotherapy treatment as standard practice. CBCT's are used to locate the treatment area and assess bladder and bowel status and ensure all of these are suitable to deliver treatment accurately.

Conditions

Interventions

OTHER

PEARL

PEARL, is a commercially available PC-based tool that provides a realistic and functional 3D model of a linac and, having uploaded example treatments it can demonstrate the treatment procedure and also relevant anatomical information.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

    lead OTHER_GOV

Principal Investigators

  • Victoria A Sykes, BSc (Hons) · Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
MALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2016-11-30
Primary Completion
2018-02-28
Completion
2018-02-28

Countries

  • United Kingdom

Study Locations

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Entities

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03025633 on ClinicalTrials.gov