ArticleClinical and translational radiation oncology2023
Patients' needs in proton therapy: A survey among ten European facilities.
Article in Clinical and translational radiation oncology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- Identifying best practices for RTTs and dosimetrists: a Delphi consensus study on standardizing workflows in proton therapy.Technical innovations & patient support in radiation oncology · 2026Article
- Cost-Effectiveness of Proton Therapy Compared With Photon Therapy in Breast Cancer.JAMA network open · 2026Article
- Protons or Photons in Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors-That Is Not the Question.International journal of particle therapy · 2025Article
- Envisioning an Italian Head and Neck Proton Therapy Model-Based Selection: Challenge and Opportunity.International journal of particle therapy · 2025Article
- More than Five Decades of Proton Therapy: A Bibliometric Overview of the Scientific Literature.Cancers · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
20 authors at 10 institutions in 8 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Aims: The number of Proton Therapy (PT) facilities is still limited worldwide, and the access to treatment could be characterized by patients' logistic and economic challenges. Aim of the present survey is to assess the support provided to patients undergoing PT across Europe. Methods: Through a personnel contact, an online questionnaire (62 multiple-choice and open-ended questions) via Microsoft Forms was administered to 10 European PT centers. The questionnaire consisted of 62 questions divided into 6 sections: i) personal data; ii) general information on clinical activity; iii) fractionation, concurrent systemic treatments and technical aspects of PT facility; iv) indication to PT and reimbursement policies; v) economic and/ or logistic support to patients vi) participants agreement on statements related to the possible limitation of access to PT. A qualitative analysis was performed and reported. Results: From March to May 2022 all ten involved centers filled the survey. Nine centers treat from 100 to 500 patients per year. Paediatric patients accounted for 10-30%, 30-50% and 50-70% of the entire cohort for 7, 2 and 1 center, respectively. The most frequent tumours treated in adult population were brain tumours, sarcomas and head and neck carcinomas; in all centers, the mean duration of PT is longer than 3 weeks. In 80% of cases, the treatment reimbursement for PT is supplied by the respective country's Health National System (HNS). HNS also provides economic support to patients in 70% of centers, while logistic and meal support is provided in 20% and 40% of centers, respectively. PT facilities offer economic and/or logistic support in 90% of the cases. Logistic support for parents of pediatric patients is provided by HNS only in one-third of centers. Overall, 70% of respondents agree that geographic challenges could limit a patient's access to proton facilities and 60% believe that additional support should be given to patients referred for PT care. Conclusions: Relevant differences exist among European countries in supporting patients referred to PT in their logistic and economic challenges. Further efforts should be made by HNSs and PT facilities to reduce the risk of inequities in access to cancer care with protons.
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