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Program shortened time from diagnosis to treatment initiation
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A patient education program was associated with decreases in time from diagnosis to treatment initiation of more than 20 days in a cohort of patients with head and neck cancers, according to findings presented at the Oncology Nursing Society Annual Congress.
Mousseau and colleagues began a program in 2010 that aimed to provide ongoing education to patients who may have difficulty navigating health care systems. They suggested that the diagnosis of head and neck cancers is overwhelming, and that patients might have difficulty beginning the schedule of consultations, procedures and tests associated with this disease.
The current study investigated several strategies involved in this goal in a cohort of patients with head and neck cancers. These strategies included:
- Developing and implementing a process to streamline scheduled appointments, tests and procedures;
- Incorporating a navigator in patient care from the time of initial diagnosis through the continuum of care;
- Encouraging compliance through education; and
- Increasing the percentage rate of successful treatment through a systematic approach to symptom management.
A chemotherapy education bag contained information to help promote detection of the disease. It also provided patients with information on management of symptoms and tools for dealing with safety, skin care, and management of falls, emotional issues and nutrition. Particular focus was placed on oral care, detection of stomatitis, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and awareness about dermatitis resulting from chemotherapy, biotherapy or radiation.
The researchers also educated patients about neutropenia, symptoms requiring emergency treatment and appropriate BMI at various stages of therapy. The learning experience was standardized and included consistent messages on pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy handling of the disease.
Patients were encouraged to be responsible for their own care.
Results indicated that the program was associated with a decrease in time from diagnosis to treatment. This duration was 45.38 days in 2009, 19.2 days in 2010 and 12.6 days in 2011.
“Oncology nurses are at the forefront of care,” the researchers wrote. “Working with physicians, navigators, community groups and, most importantly, the patient, to impact care is at the heart of what we do.”
Nurses identified the lag time between diagnosis and treatment and developed the action plan accordingly, the investigators added.
“This allowed them to be part of the solution, they were proactive and had ownership of the outcomes,” Mousseau and colleagues wrote. “Any oncology nurse can take our educational tools and process and implement in any practice of any size to streamline care and decrease wait time. This all results in better outcomes for our patients.”
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