TITLE:
Family-Participatory Continuing Radiation Protection Care for Patients Undergoing Iodine-125 Seed Implantation Effects of Compliance and Anxiety
AUTHORS:
Ailian Zhao, Li Li, Yachun Yao
KEYWORDS:
Iodine-125 Seed Implantation, Radiation Protection, Family Participation, Continuing Care, Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) Theory, Adherence
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.17 No.8,
August
10,
2026
ABSTRACT: Objective: To explore the effects of family-participatory radiation protection transitional care on radiation protection compliance and anxiety levels in patients undergoing iodine-125 seed implantation. Methods: A single-center, two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted. Patients with solid tumors receiving iodine-125 seed implantation for the first time and their primary caregivers were consecutively screened and enrolled. A total of 90 eligible patients were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group or control group using a random number table-generated allocation sequence, with 45 patients assigned to each group. The control group received routine ward-based verbal education and standard outpatient follow-up. In addition to routine care, the intervention group received a family-participatory radiation protection transitional care intervention, including family-involved structured education, structured post-discharge follow-up, and online reminder support. Radiation protection compliance, anxiety levels, and quality of life were assessed at T0 (admission/pre-intervention), T1 (day of discharge), T2 (1 month after discharge), T3 (3 months after discharge), and T4 (6 months after discharge). Results: At T0, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in baseline outcome measures (P > 0.05). From T1 to T3, the intervention group demonstrated higher radiation protection compliance scores and a higher proportion of patients achieving good adherence to radiation protection practices compared with the control group, whereas anxiety scores were significantly lower (all P 0.05). From T1 to T4, the intervention group showed significantly higher quality-of-life scores than the control group (P Conclusion: Family-participatory radiation protection transitional care combining structured education, family support, and reinforced follow-up improved radiation protection compliance, reduced anxiety levels, and enhanced quality of life among patients undergoing iodine-125 seed implantation. This intervention may provide a feasible approach for optimizing transitional care after permanent iodine-125 seed implantation.