Cancer not only affects the physical needs of a patient, but also their psychological needs. Therefore it is important to include the patient's psychological state in healthcare treatment. Knowledge regarding the recognition of distress is often overlooked, but the number of research studies on this topic is increasing. When diagnosed with cancer, patients face the loss of their health, and that news triggers grieving process. Distress refers to the unpleasant emotional, physical, social or spiritual feeling that impacts an individual's thoughts, emotions and behavior. Untreated depression and anxiety can have serious negative consequences for the treatment of oncology patients. Purpose: The purpose of this diploma thesis is to research, strategies that radiation therapists use in radiotherapy to reduce patient's distress. The aim is to explore and present coping strategies for distress in oncology patients. Methods: In diploma thesis, we used a descriptive method with a systematic review of the literature. We focused on the foreign literature in the field of distress management in oncology patients during radiation therapy, as well as the strategies used by radiation therapists. The literature was searched in various databases in English and Slovenian language from November 2022 to April 2023. Results: We presented the findings of the described articles after a systematic review. The emphasis was placed on patient's education and information regarding distress, the use of screening tests for distress and patient's opinions on their treatment in radiotherapy. Discussion and conclusion: We found how radiation therapists assist in reducing the distress of oncology patients and thereby improve their well-being and treatment outcomes. We highlighted the importance of implementing education for radiation therapists working in radiotherapy departments, as this empowers them to better interact with patients, recognize distress and choose appropriate interventions to reduce distress. Regardless of the intervention chosen to reduce distress, effective communication between the radiation therapist and the patient serves as it's foundation.
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