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1997–2009 (n = 1,258) 2011–2018 (n = 1,111) Question n % n % P Sex 0.954 Total answers 1,250 1,105 Female 1,141 91.28 1,008 91.22 Age at 131I therapy (y), mean ± SD 44 ± 11 (range, 18–85) — 45 ± 12 (range, 18–80) — 0.004 Level of education 0.014 Total answers 1,253 1,066 Elementary school 0 0.00% 0 0.00% Middle school 2 0.16% 2 0.19% High school 253 20.19% 156 14.63% College 662 52.83% 613 57.50% Graduate school 336 26.82% 295 27.67% 1997–2009 (n = 1,258) 2011–2018 (n = 1,111) Question n % n % P 131I therapies <0.001 Total answers 1,258 1,107 1 893 70.99% 898 81.12% 2 252 20.03% 154 13.91% 3 74 5.88% 37 3.34% 4 21 1.67% 9 0.81% 5 or more 18 1.43% 9 0.81% Most recent 131I therapy activity <0.001 Total answers 872 858 <1.11 GBq (<30 mCi) 51 5.86% 30 3.50% 1.11–1.8 GBq (30–49 mCi) 43 4.94% 73 8.51% 1.85–2.74 GBq (50–74 mCi) 48 5.51% 77 8.97% 2.78–36.6 GBq (75–99 mCi) 71 8.15% 85 9.91% 3.7–5.51 GBq (100–149 mCi) 293 33.64% 308 35.90% 5.55–7.36 GBq (150–199 mCi) 268 30.77% 207 24.13% 7.4–9.2 GBq (200–249 mCi) 60 6.89% 36 4.20% 9.25–11.06 GBq (250–299 mCi) 16 1.84% 16 1.86% ≥11.1 GBq (≥300 mCi) 21 2.41% 10 1.17% Type of treatment facility 0.336 Total answers 1,247 1,045 Outpatient nonhospital 133 10.67% 104 9.95% Community hospital, small 115 9.22% 87 8.33% Community hospital, large 652 52.29% 588 56.27% University hospital 334 26.78% 261 24.98% Veterans Administration hospital 6 0.48% 3 0.29% Military hospital 7 0.56% 2 0.19% Decision on inpatient/outpatient 131I therapy* <0.001 Total answers 1,248 1,098 Prescribed activity of 131I < 1.22 GBq (<33 mCi) 104 8.33% 38 3.46% Physician made decision 947 75.88% 577 52.55% Patient was involved in decision 141 11.30% 147 13.39% Inpatient 131I therapy was not authorized by insurance 67 5.37% 55 5.01% Patient completed questionnaire on current living situation 275 22.04% 32 2.91% No discussion 563 45.11% 474 43.17% Worry about radiation exposure <0.001 Total answers 1,189 1,108 1, none/negligible 192 16.15% 104 9.39% 2, little worried 172 14.47% 388 35.02% 3, moderate/nervous/anxious 308 25.90% 418 37.73% 4, high/really worried 237 19.93% 167 15.07% 5, very high/panicked 280 23.55% 31 2.80% ↵* More than 1 answer was possible for this question.
- TABLE 3
Timing and Personnel for Radiation Safety Discussion, Instructions, and Patient Compliance
1997–2009 2011–2018 Question n % n % P When was radiation safety first discussed? Total answers Not asked 563 When 131I therapy appointment was made 380 67.50% On day of 131I therapy but before 131I was administered 161 28.60% After 131I therapy 7 1.24% Never 15 2.66% Who held radiation safety discussion?* Total answers Not asked 568 Doctor who referred for 131I therapy 280 49.30% Staff at 131I treatment facility 456 80.28% ThyCa 35 6.16% Other 41 7.22% Opportunity to adjust instructions based on patient’s current situation? Total answers Not asked 473 Yes 315 66.60% When were RSIs delivered?* Total answers Not asked 564 Before day of 131I therapy 418 74.11% On day of 131I therapy but before 131I was administered 419 74.29% After 131I therapy 105 18.62% Never 7 1.24% Who orally delivered RSIs?* <0.001 Total answers 1,225 1,084 Nuclear medicine physician 656 53.55% 468 43.17% Radiation oncologist or radiation therapist 236 19.27% 112 10.33% Endocrinologist 286 23.35% 268 24.72% Nuclear medicine staff (e.g., nurse or technologist) 422 34.45% 656 60.52% Radiation safety staff (e.g., physicist or technologist) 212 17.31% 167 15.41% Nurse 171 13.96% 104 9.59% Administrator 22 1.80% 14 1.29% Other 21 1.71% 34 3.14% Patient signature on form declaring compliance? 0.1022 Total answers 982 843 Yes 861 87.68% 717 85.05% Self-assessment of overall compliance <0.001 Total answers 1,194 1,105 Complete 1,013 84.84% 1,034 93.57% Almost complete 167 13.99% 67 6.06% Half 9 0.75% 2 0.18% Almost none 3 0.25% 2 0.18% None 2 0.17% 0 0.00% ↵* More than 1 answer was allowed for this question.
RSIs 1997–2009 2011–2018 Oral Written Oral Written Received oral or written RSIs 97.56% (1,198/1,228) 95.73% (1,144/1,195) 95.23% (1,039/1,091) 90.47% (987/1,091) To reduce to as low as is reasonably achievable any radiation exposure from 131I to other individuals 96.56% (1,179/1,221) 93.86% (1,101/1,173) 96.34% (1,053/1,093) 91.70% (972/1,060) To discontinue breast feeding (if applicable) and be aware of potential consequences of noncompliance 90.66% (359/396) 87.61% (396/452) 91.04% (183/201) 87.96% (190/216) To be aware of detectable amounts of 131I that may set off security alarms at places such as airports 72.40% (837/1,156) 69.82% (768/1,100) 76.97% (792/1,029) 73.41% (704/959) To keep the name and telephone number of person or department to call if any questions about 131I treatment 72.72% (829/1,140) 76.42% (846/1,107) 59.98% (586/977) 69.95% (668/955) To not travel by mass transportation for at least first days 82.90% (727/877) To sleep alone in room for at least first night 97.70% (933/955) To live alone for at least first 2 d 68.88% (686/996) To have few visits by family or friends for at least first 2 d 87.16% (869/997) To maintain good distance from others for at least first 2 d 97.03% (980/1,010) To not travel on long car trips with others for at least first 2 d 88.97% (871/979) To not share bathroom for at least first 2 d 91.47% (912/997) To drink plenty of water for at least first 2 d 93.58% (918/981) The last 8 RSIs were not available in the 1997–2009 survey.
1997–2010 2011–2018 Question n % n % P Release time after 131I administration 0.027 Total answers 1,071 941 Immediately (<30 min) 768 71.71% 732 77.79% 30–59 min 187 17.46% 130 13.82% 1–2 h 89 8.31% 50 5.31% 2–3 h 16 1.49% 19 2.02% 3–4 h 5 0.47% 3 0.32% 4–5 h 1 0.09% 5 0.53% 5–6 h 3 0.28% 0 0.00% 6–7 h 1 0.09% 2 0.21% 7–8 h 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 8 h or more 1 0.09% 0 0.00% Lodging <0.001 Total answers 1,125* 953 Own home 955 84.89% 795 89.13% Relative’s home 107 9.51% 62 6.95% Motel, hotel, rental house, or boarding house 52 4.62% 35 3.92% Nursing home 1 0.09% 0 0.00% Other 22 1.96% 61 6.84% ↵* More than 1 answer was allowed for this question.
1997–2010 2011–2018 Question n % n % P Mode of transportation 0.862 Total answers 1,079 955* Car 1,053 97.59% 938 98.22% Taxi 13 1.20% 12 1.26% Bus 0 0.00% 2 0.21% Train 1 0.09% 1 0.10% Subway 3 0.28% 0 0.00% Airplane 0 0.00% 2 0.21% Other 9 0.83% 12 1.26% Duration of travel 0.964 Total answers 1,079 937 <1 h 843 78.13% 720 76.84% 1–2 h 176 16.31% 163 17.40% 2–3 h 37 3.43% 38 4.06% 3–4 h 14 1.30% 9 0.96% 4–5 h 3 0.28% 3 0.32% 5–6 h 4 0.37% 2 0.21% 6–7 h 1 0.09% 0 0.00% 7–8 h 0 0.00% 2 0.21% >8 h 1 0.09% 0 0.00% Number of persons within 1 m (3 ft) 0.046 Total answers 1,067 915 0 566 53.05% 555 60.66% 1 444 41.61% 335 36.61% 2 35 3.28% 20 2.19% 3 9 0.84% 2 0.22% 4 2 0.19% 0 0.00% 5 1 0.09% 0 0.00% 6 3 0.28% 0 0.00% 7 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 8 or more 7 0.66% 3 0.33% ↵* More than 1 answer was allowed for this question.
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