2811 - EONS - Nurse-led consultations for patients with gynecological cancer receiving concurrent cisplatin - a pilot study.

Background

Optimal management of symptoms is essential for the patientś adherence to the treatment schedule and quality of life. Nurses can play a crucial role in identifying the patient’s symptoms, side effects, needs and to provide support and guidance during treatment. At the Department of Oncology we replaced physician-led consultations with systematic nurse-led consultations. This study seeks to evaluate the feasibility of systematic nurse-led consultations among patients with cervical, vulvar or vaginal cancer during radiotherapy prior to the weekly treatment with cisplatin.

Methods

This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and safety from systematic nurse-led consultations among patients receiving curative concurrent chemotherapy. Patients who participated in minimum 4-6 nurse-led consultations responded to a self-developed questionnaire evaluating the consultations. The questionnaire consisted of 21 items on a 5-point Likert scale and ranged from very satisfied to very dissatisfied. Further, a focus group interview with nurse specialists (n = 4) was conducted.

Results

Patients (n = 50) who participated in nurse-led consultation from March 2018 to April 2019 fulfilled the questionnaire. The nurse-led consultations were evaluated as being feasible with no adverse events reported. The majority (94 %) were very satisfied or satisfied (6%) with nurse-led consultations. They received sufficient information about self-management strategies and side-effects. They were very satisfied (87,5%) or satisfied (12,5%) with the information and guidance provided by the nurse specialists. The focus group interview revealed that the nurse specialists (n = 4) appreciated the use of their competencies and e.g. valued the autonomy and holistic approach provided to their patients.

Conclusions

Systematic nurse-led consultations during concurrent chemoradiation trajectory of cervical, vulvar or vaginal cancer is feasible, acceptable and safe for both patients and the nurse specialists.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Rigshospitalet, Onkologisk Klinik.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.