Frontiers in Public Health (Jan 2023)

Integration of art and technology in personalized radiation oncology care: Experiences, evidence, and perspectives

  • Calogero Casà,
  • Loredana Dinapoli,
  • Loredana Dinapoli,
  • Elisa Marconi,
  • Elisa Marconi,
  • Silvia Chiesa,
  • Silvia Chiesa,
  • Patrizia Cornacchione,
  • Patrizia Cornacchione,
  • Francesco Beghella Bartoli,
  • Serena Bracci,
  • Alessandra Salvati,
  • Sara Scalise,
  • Giuseppe Ferdinando Colloca,
  • Giuseppe Ferdinando Colloca,
  • Daniela Pia Rosaria Chieffo,
  • Daniela Pia Rosaria Chieffo,
  • Maria Antonietta Gambacorta,
  • Maria Antonietta Gambacorta,
  • Vincenzo Valentini,
  • Vincenzo Valentini,
  • Luca Tagliaferri,
  • Luca Tagliaferri

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1056307
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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Cancer diagnoses expose patients to traumatic stress, sudden changes in daily life, changes in the body and autonomy, with even long-term consequences, and in some cases, to come to terms with the end-of-life. Furthermore, rising survival rates underline that the need for interventions for emotional wellbeing is in growing demand by patients and survivors. Cancer patients frequently have compliance problems, difficulties during treatment, stress, or challenges in implementing healthy behaviors. This scenario was highlighted during the COVID-19 emergency. These issues often do not reach the clinical attention of dedicated professionals and could also become a source of stress or burnout for professionals. So, these consequences are evident on individual, interpersonal, and health system levels. Oncology services have increasingly sought to provide value-based health care, considering resources invested, with implications for service delivery and related financing mechanisms. Value-based health care can improve patient outcomes, often revealed by patient outcome measures while seeking balance with economical budgets. The paper aims to show the Gemelli Advanced Radiation Therapy (ART) experience of personalizing the patients' care pathway through interventions based on technologies and art, the personalized approach to cancer patients and their role as “co-stars” in treatment care. The paper describes the vision, experiences, and evidence that have guided clinical choices involving patients and professionals in a co-constructed therapeutic pathway. We will explore this approach by describing: the various initiatives already implemented and prospects, with particular attention to the economic sustainability of the paths proposed to patients; the several pathways of personalized care, both from the patient's and healthcare professional perspective, that put the person's experience at the Gemelli ART Center. The patient's satisfaction with the treatment and economic outcomes have been considered. The experiences and future perspectives described in the manuscript will focus on the value of people's experiences and patient satisfaction indicators, patients, staff, and the healthcare organization.

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