An environmentally friendly alternative to single-use plastics for radiotherapy bladder preparation

Area of Science:

• Radiotherapy
• Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare
• Patient Compliance

Background:

• High annual usage of single-use plastic cups for bladder preparation in radiotherapy centers.
• Need for sustainable alternatives to reduce medical waste and improve patient experience.
• Importance of optimal bladder filling for effective radiotherapy delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of introducing reusable water bottles on plastic cup consumption.
• To assess the effect of reusable water bottles on bladder filling compliance in radiotherapy patients.
• To determine the environmental and clinical benefits of a sustainable bladder preparation method.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a specifically designed reusable water bottle system for patient hydration before radiotherapy.
• Quantitative analysis of plastic cup usage (pre- and post-implementation).
• Measurement and analysis of patient bladder volumes as a percentage of planned volume.

Main Results:

• Plastic cup usage decreased by 50%, from 12,000 to 6,000 annually.
• The percentage of patients achieving optimal bladder volume increased from 47% to 54%.
• Demonstrated reduction in waste and improvement in patient preparation consistency.

Conclusions:

• Reusable water bottles are an effective strategy to reduce plastic waste in radiotherapy.
• This initiative enhances patient bladder filling compliance, potentially improving treatment efficacy.
• Sustainable practices in healthcare settings can yield both environmental and clinical benefits.