Dr Heidi Probst
Senior Lecturer in Radiotherapy & Oncology
Tel: 0114 2254359
Email: h.probst@shu.ac.uk
Research Interests:
• Breast cancer radiotherapy
• Radiotherapy workforce
• E-learning
Current projects
- The Radiotherapy Workforce - Intentions to Leave: A Longitudinal Prospective Investigation of Workload, Task Complexity and Unmet Career Expectations. (Grant size £10,000
- An Investigation of the impact on learner, educator and Institution of electronic distance learning compared with traditional delivery for a level 7 Interprofessional Research Methods Module. (Grant size £2,120.00)
Qualifications
- Diploma College of Radiographers (Radiotherapy) 1987
- BSc (Hons) Professional Studies in Health Care Teesside Polytechnic 1991
- Further and Adult Education Teaching certificate 1992
- MA Industrial Relations Keele University 1994
- PhD University of Teesside 2002
Work Experience
I qualified as a therapy radiographer from the Royal London Hospital. Most of my clinical experience was undertaken at Cookridge Hospital in Leeds where I worked as a Superintendent II Radiographer specialising in pre-treatment/simulation from 1993- 1999.
In 1999 I received a Department of Health Research Fellowship award to complete my PhD (see details below).
Previous Projects
Investigating Radiotherapy Protocols for Breast Carcinoma: An evaluation of respiratory morbidity, treatment accuracy and efficiency. DoH grant size £80,929
Project Details
Treatment of breast cancer has become multidisciplinary with radiotherapy playing a fundamental role. Owing to its high incidence, breast cancer can utilise a substantial proportion of the radiotherapy treatment capacity. It is therefore necessary to consider the impact that technical approaches have on the use of resources, as well as ensuring that treatment policies result in the best outcomes for patients.
The Project aims were:
To investigate the relationship between the depth of lung incorporated in the tangential chest wall fields and lung symptoms identified from patient self reports.
To identify the effectiveness of two skin marking options, and their impact on the use of resources.
Method
A randomised trial was used with patients randomised to one of two skin marking options and one of two lung depth categories. The primary outcome measures were patient self reports of a dry unproductive cough (DUC) post treatment and levels of treatment accuracy. Secondary outcomes included quality of life scores, patient experiences of the skin marking options and use of resources. A sample of 360 patients from one radiotherapy centre consented to participate in the study.
Results
On an intention to treat basis no difference in post treatment symptoms for DUC could be identified between the two lung depth categories. A logistic regression identified: patient age, the use of loco-regional radiotherapy, and symptoms of DUC pre treatment as significant in determining the risk of patients developing symptoms post treatment.
No difference in treatment accuracy for the two skin marking options could be identified. A cost-effectiveness evaluation of the two skin marking options was unable to detect a cost saving for either option with no significant difference in effectiveness demonstrated between the two groups.
Discussion
Within the range of lung volumes treated the central lung depth was found to have no influence on the post treatment scores for DUC. However, as a significant proportion of data was missing, the failure to find a difference in reporting of post treatment DUC should be treated with caution. The factors found to influence symptoms in the patient sample may help practitioners to identify high risk patients prior to treatment.
Overall the results have provided a first step in building an evidence base to inform future practice in this field, as well as identifying further areas for study.
Recent Publications
- Probst H, Holmes M, Dodwell D. Radiotherapy waiting times, resources and protocols for breast carcinoma; a survey of UK radiotherapy centres. Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice 2003; 3(3):113-121.
- Probst H, Dodwell D, Gray JC, Holmes M. Radiotherapy for Breast Carcinoma: An evaluation of the relationship between the central lung depth and respiratory symptoms. Radiography 2005; 11(1):3-9.
- Probst H, Dodwell D, Gray JC, Holmes M. An evaluation of the accuracy of semi-permanent skin marks for breast cancer irradiation. Radiography 2006 12 (3) 186-188
- Probst H, Griffiths S, Moving to a High- tech approach to the Irradiation of Early Breast cancer: Is it possible to balance Efficacy, Morbidity and Resource use? Clinical Oncology 2006; 18 (3) 268-275
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