Patient Assessment for Radiation Therapy

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers patient assessment principles, communication styles, nutritional and pain evaluation, hematological terms, and specific radiation therapy side effects based on the AL309 Radiation Therapy Program.

Assessment

The clinical plan that identifies the unique needs of the patient and how those needs will be addressed.

Therapeutic Relationship

A relationship between the patient and health care provider allowing both parties to engage and produce beneficial change for the patient.

Cognitive Content

The actual facts and words contained within a verbal message.

Affective Content

Verbal or nonverbal messages consisting of feelings, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.

Empathy

Identifying with the feelings, thoughts, or experiences of another person by understanding their condition from their perspective.

Minimal Response

Verbal counterparts to head nodding, such as "Yes," "Uh huh," or "I see," used to indicate listening.

Reflecting Response

A response where health care providers communicate their understanding of the patient’s concerns and perspectives, often starting with "Sounds as if you are…".

Paraphrasing Response

A response that restates what the patient has said using different words, remaining interchangeable with the patient’s statement.

Probing Response

A response that seeks more information through the use of open-ended questions.

Clarifying Response

A response used to obtain more information regarding vague or ambiguous statements to reduce ambiguity.

Interpreting Response

A response involving adding something to the patient’s statement to help the patient understand underlying feelings or to allow the patient to confirm the therapist's understanding.

Checking out Response

A response providing the patient with the opportunity to confirm or correct the radiation therapist’s understanding of the communication.

Informing Response

A response that shares objective, factual, and informative information with the patient.

Confronting Response

A response that identifies inconsistencies between what the radiation therapist observes and what the patient is communicating.

Summarizing Response

A response where the therapist condenses and puts in order the information communicated, often helpful for patients who ramble.

Anorexia

The inability or lack of desire to eat, which is a major cause of cancer cachexia.

Cachexia

A multidimensional "wasting syndrome" characterized by weight loss, muscle atrophy, fatigue, and weakness.

Kwashiorkor

A form of protein-energy malnutrition produced by severe protein deficiency and associated with muscle loss.

Marasmus

A condition of calorie malnutrition characterized by the depletion of fat and muscle, primarily associated with fat loss.

Acute Pain

New, sudden pain associated with procedures, tumor progression, or emergent conditions like cord compression.

Chronic Pain

Pain present for an extended period, specifically defined as $3$ months or more.

Karnofsky Performance Status

A scale from $0$ to $100$ used to evaluate a patient's ability to carry on normal activity and perform self-care.

Myelosuppression

A reduction in bone marrow function resulting in fewer red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Anemia

A decrease in the number of peripheral red blood cells and hemoglobin level.

Hematocrit

The percentage of erythrocytes in the blood, which is used to diagnose anemia.

Leukopenia

A decrease in the white blood cell count, which increases the risk of infection.

Thrombocytopenia

A reduction in the number of circulating platelets, impacting the clotting of blood; counts of $20,000\,mm^3$ or less can result in spontaneous hemorrhage.

Quality of Life

A person's subjective sense of well-being derived from physical, psychological, and social factors of their personal experience.

Anxiety

A response to a perceived threat at an emotional level characterized by increased arousal and uneasy feelings.

Depression

A condition in which a person feels discouraged, sad, hopeless, unmotivated, or disinterested in life.

Cultural Assessment

The systematic appraisal of the cultural beliefs, values, and practices of individuals and communities.

Spirituality

A sense of fulfillment and connection with a power greater than oneself that guides a person's conduct.

Religion

Distinctive principles and rituals practiced either alone or in established groups.

Erythema

Reddening of the skin; faint erythema occurs at $1600\,cGy$ and standard erythema at $2000$ to $3000\,cGy$.

Dry Desquamation

Dry, flaky, and itchy skin occurring at $3000$ to $4000\,cGy$.

Moist Desquamation

Skin reactions involving fissures and cracks that may weep or have drainage, occurring at $4000$ to $6000\,cGy$.

Epilation/Alopecia

Radiation-induced hair loss occurring around $20\,Gy$; it may be permanent at doses greater than $40\,Gy$.

Stomatitis

Inflammation of the mouth affecting the lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, or the roof and floor of the mouth.

Xerostomia

Dry mouth caused by reduced saliva production.

Mucositis

Inflammation and breakdown of the mucous membranes lining the mouth and digestive tract.

Cystitis

Inflammation of the bladder occurring at $30$ to $40\,Gy$; symptoms include increased frequency, urgency, and burning during urination.