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| The following article features coverage from the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2019. Click here to read more of Oncology Nurse Advisor‘s conference coverage. |
Replacing physician-led consultations with systematic nurse-led consultations during concurrent chemoradiation trajectory for cervical, vulvar, or vaginal cancer was acceptable and safe for both patients and the nurse specialists, according to results of a Danish study presented at ESMO Congress 2019 in Barcelona, Spain.
Researchers investigated nurse-led consultations for patients with gynecological cancer receiving concurrent cisplatin and radiation therapy. The investigators report that optimal management of symptoms is essential for the patient’s adherence to the treatment and oncology nurses in particular can play a crucial role in identifying the patient’s symptoms, adverse effects, and needs.
In the oncology department, the team replaced physician-led consultations with systematic nurse-led consultations and evaluated the approach in patients with cervical, vulvar, or vaginal cancer during radiotherapy prior to a weekly treatment with cisplatin. The primary purpose of the pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of systematic nurse-led consultations for patients receiving curative concurrent chemoradiation.
All the patients had 4 to 6 nurse-led consultations and completed a questionnaire consisting of 21 items on a 5-point Likert scale. The researchers also set up a focus group interview with 4 nurse specialists. A total of 50 patients participated in the nurse-led consultations between March 2018 and April 2019 and completed the questionnaire.
The nurse-led consultations were found to be feasible and no adverse events were reported. The researchers found that 94% of the participants reported being very satisfied and 6% reported being satisfied with the nurse-led consultations. The participants also reported they were pleased with the information they received on self-management strategies and expectant adverse effects.
Reference
Christiansen M, Roed H, Phanareth C, Piil K. Nurse-led consultations for patients with gynaecological cancer receiving concurrent cisplatin: a pilot study. Presented at: ESMO Congress 2019; September 27-October 1, 2019; Barcelona, Spain. Abstract CN69.
