Publications by authors named "Jessica M Schuster"
Background: Triage nurses play a crucial role in addressing patient telephone calls. However, topics that radiation oncology (RO) triage nurses encounter have not been thoroughly investigated.
Objectives: This project established baseline patient issues addressed via telephone by RO triage nurses in a clinically busy academic RO department; identified themes and potential areas for workflow improvement; and evaluated interprofessional perceptions of RO triage from nurses, physicians, and radiation therapists.
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluated the safety and quality-of-life outcomes for prostate cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) that included a focal boost to specific lesions within the prostate.
- Approximately 114 patients participated, with results indicating low levels of severe gastrointestinal (GI) or genitourinary (GU) toxicity, even after a median follow-up of 42 months.
- Patient-reported outcomes demonstrated no significant long-term negative changes in various quality-of-life domains such as urinary, bowel, hormonal, or sexual health after undergoing the treatment.
The specialty of radiation oncology's gender diversity is lagging other medical specialties. The lack of gender diversity in radiation oncology has been demonstrated at all stages of career, from medical schools to department chairs. Multiple articles have demonstrated literature-based benefits of inclusion of a diverse group of female colleagues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Prior surveys suggest almost one-third of chief residents report insufficient exposure to treatment planning. We evaluated the state of treatment planning education among United States residents.
Methods And Materials: A web-based survey was sent to current residents identified using the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology directory.
Objective: Patients are turning to the Internet more often for cancer-related information. Oncology organizations need to ensure that appropriately written information is available for patients online. The aim of this study was to determine whether the readability of radiation oncology online patient information (OPI) provided by RTAnswers (RTAnswers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: A majority of patients enrolled in hospice have advanced cancer. Most of them are burdened by symptoms related to uncontrolled tumor growth. Although palliative radiation therapy (RT) is highly effective, only 1% of hospice patients are ever referred.
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