title: Patient preferences for timing and access to radiation therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patient preferences for radiation therapy (rt) access were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients completing a course of rt at 6 centres received a 17-item survey that rated preferences for time of day; day of week; actual, ideal, and reasonable travel times for rt; and actual, ideal, and reasonable times between referral and first oncologic consultation. Patients receiving single-fraction rt or brachytherapy alone were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the respondents who returned surveys (n = 1053), 54% were women, and 74% had received more than 15 rt fractions. With respect to appointment times, 88% agreed or strongly agreed that rt between 08h00 and 16h30 was preferred; 14%-15% preferred 07h30-08h00 or 16h30-17h00; 10% preferred 17h00-18h00; and 6% or fewer preferred times before 07h30 or after 18h00. A preference not to receive rt before 07h30 or after 18h00 was expressed by 30% or more of the respondents. When days of the week were considered, 18% and 11% would have preferred to receive rt on a Saturday or Sunday respectively; 52% and 55% would have preferred not to receive rt on those days. A travel time of 1 hour or less for rt was reported by 82%, but 61% felt that a travel time of 1 hour or more was reasonable. A first consultation within 2 weeks of referral was felt to be ideal or reasonable by 88% and 73% of patients respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An rt service designed to meet patient preferences would make most capacity available between 08h00 and 16h30 on weekdays and provide 10%-20% of rt capacity on weekends and during 07h30-08h00 and 16h30-18h00 on weekdays. Approximately 80%, but not all, of the responding patients preferred a 2-week or shorter interval between referral and first oncologic consultation.
authors: BC Cancer Agency, Radiation Therapy Program, Vancouver, Prince George, Surrey, Victoria, Abbotsford, and Kelowna, BC; ; University of British Columbia, Division of Radiation Oncology and Developmental Radiotherapeutics, Vancouver, Prince George, Kelowna, and Victoria, BC; ; University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
authors: I A
authors: IA
authors: Olivotto
authors: BC Cancer Agency, Radiation Therapy Program, Vancouver, Prince George, Surrey, Victoria, Abbotsford, and Kelowna, BC;
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Soo
authors: BC Cancer Agency, Radiation Therapy Program, Vancouver, Prince George, Surrey, Victoria, Abbotsford, and Kelowna, BC; ; University of British Columbia, Division of Radiation Oncology and Developmental Radiotherapeutics, Vancouver, Prince George, Kelowna, and Victoria, BC;
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Olson
authors: BC Cancer Agency, Radiation Therapy Program, Vancouver, Prince George, Surrey, Victoria, Abbotsford, and Kelowna, BC;
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Rowe
authors: BC Cancer Agency, Radiation Therapy Program, Vancouver, Prince George, Surrey, Victoria, Abbotsford, and Kelowna, BC;
authors: J
authors: J
authors: French
authors: BC Cancer Agency, Radiation Therapy Program, Vancouver, Prince George, Surrey, Victoria, Abbotsford, and Kelowna, BC;
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Jensen
authors: BC Cancer Agency, Radiation Therapy Program, Vancouver, Prince George, Surrey, Victoria, Abbotsford, and Kelowna, BC;
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Pastuch
authors: BC Cancer Agency, Radiation Therapy Program, Vancouver, Prince George, Surrey, Victoria, Abbotsford, and Kelowna, BC; ; University of British Columbia, Division of Radiation Oncology and Developmental Radiotherapeutics, Vancouver, Prince George, Kelowna, and Victoria, BC;
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Halperin
authors: BC Cancer Agency, Radiation Therapy Program, Vancouver, Prince George, Surrey, Victoria, Abbotsford, and Kelowna, BC; ; University of British Columbia, Division of Radiation Oncology and Developmental Radiotherapeutics, Vancouver, Prince George, Kelowna, and Victoria, BC;
authors: P T
authors: PT
authors: Truong
keywords: Radiation therapy; health service capacity; patient-centred care; preferences