Hoffmans-Holtzer Nienke, Kunnen Britt, Tims Olijn, de Pree Ilse, Slagter Cleo, Acht Manouk Olofsen-van, Hoogeman Mischa, Petit Steven
Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Radiotherapy, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands (the).
Clin Transl Radiat Oncol. 2025 Jul 16;54:101017. doi: 10.1016/j.ctro.2025.101017. eCollection 2025 Sep.
In palliative radiotherapy, many patients experience discomfort and pain during treatment, particularly while lying on flat, hard treatment couches that are considered essential for accurate treatment delivery. Thin foam matts, often used for palliative treatments, can somewhat reduce discomfort, but they are frequently insufficient.
In this study a mattress was developed and investigated, with the aim to reduce pain during radiotherapy treatments without affecting treatment quality.
A nonrandomized clinical trial compared the newly designed RTComfort mattress with a standard thin foam matt. The primary endpoint was mattress preference, while secondary endpoints included experienced pain, positioning stability, and dosimetric effects. Included patients tested both the mat and mattress for one minute each in the treatment position before planning-CT acquisition, scoring their preference and pain on a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS, 0-10). Subsequently, patients were scanned and treated on their preferred option. Positioning stability during treatment was evaluated using optical surface scanning and dosimetric effects were evaluated through dose calculations with the treatment planning system.
Out of 45 patients, 44 (98 %) preferred the RTComfort mattress, with 35 patients showing a strong preference (p < 0.0001). The median pain score on the RTComfort mattress decreased from 4.8 (IQR: 2.0-6.1) to 2.0 (IQR: 0.4 to 4.0 NRS) (p < 0.0001). Both options showed negligible patient sagging, with marginally less on the RTComfort mattress (p < 0.0001). No relevant dosimetric effects were observed.
This prospective clinical trial highlights the need for more comfortable radiotherapy treatments. Compared to the standard thin foam matt, 98% of patients preferred the RTComfort mattress. The RTComfort mattress provided clinically significant reduction in pain associated with lying on flat, hard treatment couches. The mattress is safe for clinical use and shows potential beyond palliative radiotherapy settings.
在姑息性放射治疗中，许多患者在治疗期间会感到不适和疼痛，尤其是躺在被认为对精确治疗至关重要的平坦、坚硬的治疗床上时。常用于姑息治疗的薄泡沫垫能在一定程度上减轻不适，但往往并不够。
在本研究中，开发并研究了一种床垫，旨在减轻放射治疗期间的疼痛，同时不影响治疗质量。
一项非随机临床试验将新设计的RTComfort床垫与标准薄泡沫垫进行了比较。主要终点是床垫偏好，次要终点包括体验到的疼痛、体位稳定性和剂量学效应。纳入的患者在计划CT采集前，在治疗体位下分别测试垫子和床垫各一分钟，用数字评分量表（NRS，0 - 10）对他们的偏好和疼痛进行评分。随后，患者在其偏好的选项上进行扫描和治疗。使用光学表面扫描评估治疗期间的体位稳定性，并通过治疗计划系统进行剂量计算来评估剂量学效应。
45名患者中，44名（98%）更喜欢RTComfort床垫，35名患者表现出强烈偏好（p < 0.0001）。在RTComfort床垫上的疼痛评分中位数从4.8（四分位间距：2.0 - 6.1）降至2.0（四分位间距：0.4至4.0 NRS）（p < 0.0001）。两种选项的患者下沉情况均可忽略不计，RTComfort床垫上的下沉略少（p < 0.0001）。未观察到相关的剂量学效应。
这项前瞻性临床试验凸显了对更舒适放射治疗的需求。与标准薄泡沫垫相比，98%的患者更喜欢RTComfort床垫。RTComfort床垫显著减轻了因躺在平坦、坚硬的治疗床上而产生的疼痛。该床垫临床使用安全，并且在姑息性放射治疗环境之外也显示出潜力。
