Department of Medical Psychology
DE
SPACE - Study of Patient Area Comfort Experience
This study on the perception of waiting in waiting area 3 of the Department of Radiation Therapy and Radiation Oncology at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) will be conducted from March 30, 2026, by the Institute of Medical Psychology (UKE) in cooperation with the Department of Radiation Therapy and Radiation Oncology.
The study examines how patients and accompanying persons experience waiting in waiting area 3 of the radiation therapy department. It was developed with the active involvement of members of the Patient Advisory Board (UCCH).
To achieve this, we are conducting online questionnaire surveys and telephone interviews.
Eligible participants are adult patients with a tumor disease who wait for their radiation treatment in the radiation therapy waiting area on at least five occasions and their accompanying persons.
The study is part of the “Healing Soundscapes” project, which focuses on improving waiting environments in hospitals. The project is funded under the Federal–State Initiative “Innovative University” by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and the City of Hamburg.
By participating, you support scientific research aimed at making hospital waiting environments more patient-friendly in the future.
Your participation at a glance
- One-time short baseline questionnaire (online, 5–10 minutes)
- Short online surveys during waiting time (approx. 5 minutes each)
→ Number depends on your treatment duration (maximum of 10 surveys) - Optional telephone interview
- Chance to win gift vouchers as a token of appreciation
Participation is voluntary and has no impact on your medical treatment.
How the study works:
If you would like to participate, please first check whether you meet the following requirements:
- Receiving radiation therapy due to a tumor disease
- At least 5 upcoming outpatient radiation therapy appointments
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Sufficient knowledge of German or English
If you meet these criteria, you can register using your smartphone or tablet via the following link:
After providing your consent, you will receive a one-time short questionnaire on sociodemographic information (completion time: 5–10 minutes). We will send you the link by email so that you can complete the questionnaire at home on your smartphone, tablet or computer.
After that, we ask you to arrive about 15 minutes early for your radiation therapy appointments and complete a short questionnaire each time in the waiting area (approx. 3–5 minutes). The link will be sent to you by email. The questionnaires should ideally be completed at consecutive appointments. In total, we ask you to complete a maximum of 10 questionnaires.
→ If you only have five appointments, please complete five questionnaires.
→ If you have more appointments, please complete up to ten questionnaires.
In these questionnaires, you will rate how you currently feel and how you perceive the situation in the waiting area. Note: UKE guest Wi-Fi is available in the waiting area.
Optionally, after completing the questionnaire series, you may take part in a telephone interview (approx. 30 minutes), where you can describe your experiences of the waiting situation in more detail.
As a token of appreciation for your support, at the end of the study period (approx. October 2026), we will raffle 30 EVERYWISH gift vouchers worth €20 each among all participants who have completed at least 80% of the scheduled short questionnaires. These vouchers can be redeemed in various shops and online stores. For participation in a telephone interview, you will receive an additional €15 voucher.
Detailed study documents, as well as information on data protection and your consent, can be found under the tab:
If you are interested in participating, please check whether you meet the following requirements:
- Accompanying an outpatient with a tumor disease to radiation therapy appointments on multiple occasions
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Sufficient knowledge of German or English
If you meet these requirements, you may take part in a telephone interview (approx. 30 minutes). The appointment will be arranged via email.
Before the interview, you will receive a one-time short questionnaire on sociodemographic information (completion time approx. 5–10 minutes). We will send you the link by email so that you can complete the questionnaire at home on your smartphone or tablet.
Please register using the following link:
As a token of appreciation for your support, you will receive a €15 gift voucher for participating in the telephone interview. This voucher can be redeemed in various shops and online stores.
Detailed study documents, as well as information on data protection and your consent, can be found under the tab:
