BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Radiotherapy of the head and neck is challenged by the relatively large number of organs-at-risk close to the tumor. Biologically-oriented objective functions (OF) could optimally distribute the dose among the organs-at-risk. We aimed to explore OFs based on multivariable normal …

In pre-treatment dose verification, low resolution detector systems are unable to identify shifts of individual leafs of high resolution multi leaf collimator (MLC) systems from detected changes in the dose deposition. The goal of this study was to introduce an alternative approach (the shutter technique) …

This thesis is written for Rical Cleaning products, a Dutch company that is specialized in selling cleaning products business to business. The purpose of this research is to obtain insight on the level of customer satisfaction, customer loyalty and the level of customer recommendations and how this can …

Importance Older adults acutely hospitalized are at risk of disability. Trials on comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and transitional care present inconsistent results. Objective To test whether an intervention of systematic CGA, followed by the transitional care bridge program, improved activities …

Malnutrition, especially among the elderly in the healthcare environment, is a prevalent problem in The Netherlands, affecting both patients and the healthcare budget. Although oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are often used to restore the nutritional status of a patient, the evaluated current available …

Background: Although the incidence of HIV/AIDS has decreased globally, it is on the rise in Eastern Europe. The primary mode of HIV transmission in the region is injecting drug use (IDU) due to the smuggling routes of Afghan heroin into Europe, which makes drugs widely available. The widespread sharing …

The objective of this study was to introduce a new iterative method to reconstruct multi leaf collimator (MLC) positions based on low resolution ionization detector array measurements and to evaluate its error detection performance. The iterative reconstruction method consists of a fluence model, a detector …

BACKGROUND: Online self-management diaries are used to support patients' self-management skills and facilitate associated behavioral changes. Although web-based diaries are well-known as a potential self-management tool, reasons that patients use (or do not use) self-management diaries, as well as …

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate that novice dosimetry planners efficiently create clinically acceptable IMRT plans for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients using a commercially available multicriteria optimization (MCO) system. METHODS: Twenty HNC patients were enrolled in this in-silico comparative planning …

Background and purpose: Treatment plan verification of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is generally performed with the gamma index (GI) evaluation method, which is difficult to extrapolate to clinical implications. Incorporating Dose Volume Histogram (DVH) information can compensate for this. …