Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction/Background: PRRT is a high cost treatment for progressing Neuroendocrine tumours. Patients and healthcare providers invest heavily in the treatment journey that lasts a number of months.

Aims: To assess the level of patient satisfaction with the PRRT service, to indicate areas for possible improvement and good practice and serve as a baseline for future assessments.

Material and Methods: A patient experience survey was devised by the PRRT team and approved by the Hospital after consultation with a patient interest group.

Questions covered following topics: • Side effects and expectations • How treatment delivered • Anxieties/concerns • Covid 19 • Travel, information, Hospital choice There were 32 Questions – some multiple choice and freehand comments. Demographics “About you” were collected. Opportunity was given to make comments about what we did well, or could improve. 145 surveys were sent out after each treatment cycle with a SAE for return from early 2021 to December 2022. 75 surveys were returned and the data was stored electronically for analysis.

Results: Among the results satisfaction with the PRRT service was in general high. 67 found their treatment very good, 7 good. Information noted to be helpful for 65, to some extent for 9. 5 out of 75 indicated areas where their concerns could have been reduced. Unexpected side effects noted in 20 responses, none in 34. The treatment was assessed to run smoothly and professionally. Negative comments were seen to be either difficult to change or immutable (eg treatment not offered at local hospital (mean distance travelled 31 miles), Covid restrictions, day case treatment) or required attention from the PRRT team (eg update patient information leaflet, increase awareness of post treatment imaging, offer car parking pass).

Conclusions: The survey was a useful tool to assess satisfaction with the treatment process from beginning to end. Not only was it reassuring that satisfaction appeared to be high but improvements to the service could be made in light of comments made.

Plans for the future: Regular surveys updated according to current practice and working environment would help to validate the way in which we work or inform the need for change.