5112 - Symptomatic and toxicity management of cancer patients using a telephone support model led by the oncology nurse

Background

Most cancer patients are treated and followed up on an outpatient basis. A nursing led model of telephone care attention for cancer patients can be useful to improve the symptomatic control and the toxicity of the treatment. This model is being implemented in our hospital belonging to the Andorran Health Care Service. The specific aims of this study is to assess a nursing led model of telephone care attention for cancer patients in the course of treatment.

Methods

A descriptive prospective design has been used to analyze the telephone calls of cancer patients in treatment between outpatient appointments and the resolution capacity of oncology nurses. Telephone calls have been collected from October 2018 to March 2019 in a database. The variables analyzed using this database were: age, sex, type of tumor, type of treatment (oral or intravenous chemotherapy or immunotherapy), call reason and nursing resolution.

Results

49 telephone calls and 52 call reasons have been registered of 45 patients. On average, the patients were 58.1 (± 9.4) years old and 53% of them were male. Patients with colon and breast cancer were the most frequent, representing 20% and 16% respectively. 47% of patients were receiving intravenous chemotherapy, 36% oral chemotherapy and 18% immunotherapy. The call reasons were: 33% related to disease symptoms, 24 % related to toxicity, and 21 % related to treatment information and general issues. The most frequent reason for consultation was pain (23%) and the second was diarrhea (15%). Of the total telephone calls received, 92% were resolved by the nurse compared to 8% who required attention by a physician (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Oncology nurse led model of telephone support for patients with cancer who attend outpatient treatment can improve symptomatic and toxicity management, reducing medical appointments and admissions to the Emergency Service.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Hospital Nostra Senyora de Meritxell.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

G. Simó: Full / Part-time employment: Hospìtal Nostra Senyora de Meritxell. C. Royo: Full / Part-time employment: Hospìtal Nostra Senyora de Meritxell. E. Mahia: Full / Part-time employment: Hospìtal Nostra Senyora de Meritxell. E. Baillés: Full / Part-time employment: Hospìtal Nostra Senyora de Meritxell. S. Echevarria: Full / Part-time employment: Hospìtal Nostra Senyora de Meritxell. A. Berenguer: Full / Part-time employment: Hospìtal Nostra Senyora de Meritxell. S. Albiol: Full / Part-time employment: Hospìtal Nostra Senyora de Meritxell.