Patients' Perceived Valorization Toward Ringing the Cancer Bell at the End of Their Radiation Therapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Psychological Medicine
• Patient Experience

Background:

• The tradition of "ringing the bell" signifies the end of cancer treatment.
• Healthcare providers are increasingly interested in the psychological impact of this milestone on patients.
• Understanding patient perception is crucial for supportive care in radiation oncology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient valorization of the "ringing the bell" experience post-radiation therapy.
• To determine the impact of this tradition on patients' mental health.
• To explore potential socioeconomic trends associated with the experience.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous survey distributed to 236 patients at a radiation oncology center.
• Likert scale used to evaluate perceived valorization of "ringing the bell."
• Inclusion of questions on patient background to identify lifestyle and socioeconomic trends.

Main Results:

• 93.6% of patients reported the experience as "positive" or "very positive."
• Only 0.8% of responses (6 out of 708) were "negative."
• No "very negative" responses were recorded, indicating overwhelming positive sentiment.

Conclusions:

• "Ringing the bell" serves as significant psychological comfort for patients completing radiation therapy.
• The practice demonstrates a positive impact on patients' mental health.
• No correlation was found between the experience and patients' socioeconomic status.