On-Table Virtual Reality to Reduce Anxiety/Distress during Radiation Treatments: A Pilot Randomized Trial.

We report the first randomized trial of a virtual reality (VR) headset used on-table during external beam radiation therapy (RT) treatments to reduce anxiety/distress during receipt of RT. A small pilot study was conducted among 10 patients, with VR randomized to start in the first week ("immediate VR") versus the second week ("delayed VR") of treatment. All patients (100%) in the immediate VR group had declines in measured distress scores after their first radiation treatment, compared to only 1 patient (16.

Phase-change ultrasound contrast agents for proton range verification: towards anapplication.

In proton therapy, range uncertainties prevent optimal benefit from the superior depth-dose characteristics of proton beams over conventional photon-based radiotherapy. To reduce these uncertainties we recently proposed the use of phase-change ultrasound contrast agents as an affordable and effective range verification tool. In particular, superheated nanodroplets can convert into echogenic microbubbles upon proton irradiation, whereby the resulting ultrasound contrast relates to the proton range with high reproducibility.

Centering the role of community health workers in social risk screening, referral, and follow-up within the primary care setting.

Background: Community health workers (CHWs) remain an underutilized resource in social risk diagnostics in the primary care setting. This process evaluation study seeks to assess the role of CHWs in social risk screening, referral, and follow-up through process mapping to identify barriers to the process for future quality improvement efforts.

Methods: Researchers at the Arizona Prevention Research Center (AzPRC) engaged with two Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in two of Arizona's major urban areas to evaluate their internal processes for social risk screening and intervention.

Building Frontline Capability for Shared Decision-Making (SDM) in a Major Academic Oncology Center Caring for People With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Performance Outcomes of a SDM Simulation Training Program.

Background: There is a growing body of evidence on shared decision-making (SDM) training programs worldwide. However, there is wide variation in program design, duration, effectiveness, and evaluation in both academia (ie, medical school) and the practice setting. SDM training has been slow to integrate in practice settings.