Background & Purpose:
In British Columbia, there is currently no formal process to help patients receiving palliative radiation therapy get connected to the right clinic or know what to expect before their first appointment. In other places, a trained radiation therapist contacts patients ahead of time to understand their needs, guide them to the right care, and answer questions early on. This type of early contact—called a triage call—has been shown to improve the overall experience for patients.
A radiation therapist at BC Cancer is exploring how a similar triage process could support people who are receiving radiation to help relieve pain from cancer that has spread to the bones. The goal is to improve communication, reduce confusion, and better meet patient expectations before treatment begins.
They are looking for two patient or family partners to learn more about what information would have been helpful before their first radiation department appointment, what was surprising, and how a triage call might have improved their experience if it had been available.
Level of influence:
Involve: Partners are involved throughout the engagement to provide feedback.
Eligibility:
- You are a patient or a family partner,
- You have received radiation therapy treatment for bone metastasis.
- A bone metastasis is when cancer has spread to a person’s bones.
- Optional: You have received treatment at the Vancouver Rapid Access Clinic (VARA).
Location: Virtual meetings
Date: July 21, 2025
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours total
Honorarium: $30/hour
Closing date: July 16, 2025
