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The impact of the introduction of consultant radiographer-led consent for multiple myeloma bone metastases patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2021

Sarah Griffiths Open the ORCID record for Sarah Griffiths [Opens in a new window]
Sarah Griffiths*
Affiliation:
The Radiotherapy Department, Bristol Cancer Institute, Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, Bristol, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Sarah Griffiths, The Radiotherapy Department, Bristol Cancer Institute, Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, Horfield Road, BristolBS2 8ED, UK. Tel: +44 117 342 4285. E-mail: Sarah.Griffiths@UHBW.nhs.uk
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Abstract

Background:

The role of the Consultant Radiographer (CR) is crossing traditional boundaries to encompass duties and responsibilities normally performed by the medical profession. Changes and streamlining of radiotherapy (RT) services result as therapeutic radiographers are taking on the responsibility of informed consent.

Purpose:

This article discusses and evaluates the legal, ethical and practical aspects of informed consent within the trust and how they have implemented the introduction of CR-led consent. It reports on the impact on the waiting times for treatment and user experience for myeloma patients receiving RT for pain relief from bone metastases.

Materials and methods:

A literature search was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Medline and Cochrane library using the term ‘informed consent’. The legal, ethical and practical aspects were compared to the current system and then was used to inform the development of a new pathway. Data were analysed from the department’s statistics for waiting times and the number of treatment courses.

Results and conclusions:

CR-led informed consent has streamlined the patient pathway and has improved patient care and experience.

Keywords

consultant radiographer-led informed consentradiotherapy patient pathwaymultiple myeloma bone metastases
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , September 2022 , pp. 366 - 369
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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