Assessment of the effectiveness of a prechemotherapy teaching session: A Brown University Oncology Group study.

Abstract

260 Background: Pre-chemotherapy teaching sessions, often coordinated by nursing personnel, are an opportunity to educate patients on treatment side effects, schedule, medications for toxicities such as nausea, and how to contact the oncology team if adverse events develop. Our institution provides a structured 60-minute nurse-coordinated pre-chemotherapy teaching session. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether pre-chemotherapy teaching sessions improve patient knowledge, preparedness, and anxiety in relation to chemotherapy. Methods: Patients were offered the opportunity to participate in the study after their medical oncologist had reviewed their treatment regimen. After informed consent was obtained, participants were administered a 10-question survey assessing knowledge of treatment adverse effects, treatment schedule, management of complications, accessing their medical team, and patient anxiety. Subjects then participated in a pre-chemotherapy teaching session with an oncology nurse. The survey was readministered when patients returned on day 1, cycle 1 of treatment and on day 1, cycle 2. The questionnaire used a 1 to 4 rating scale (1=no knowledge, 2= minimally informed, 3= reasonably informed, 4= well informed). A pre-defined mean change of 1 on the rating scale was considered to be clinically significant. Paired one-sided t-tests were performed to evaluate the mean change in groups between each of the three surveys. p values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: At the time of analysis, 78 patients had completed a pre-chemotherapy teaching session and all three surveys. After participating in a teaching session, there was an increase in patient’s perceived knowledge of side effects (mean score 2.3 vs. 3.5, p<0.001), knowledge of the treatment schedule (mean score 2.4 vs. 3.5, p<0.001) and medications to prevent nausea (mean score of 1.4 vs. 3.1, p <0.001). There was also a statistically significant reduction in patient anxiety in relation to treatment, p< 0.001. Conclusions: These results show that a nurse-coordinated, pre-chemotherapy teaching session increases patient knowledge and reduces anxiety regarding their upcoming treatment.

Radium-223 dichloride: illustrating the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

“…Before initiating therapy, the patient is educated by a unique nurse education team, which provides information on the risks and benefits of radium-223 therapy, reviews treatment schedules and special precautions, and most importantly, answers patient-initiated questions about this first-in-class therapy. We have observed that nurse-guided treatment education reduces patient anxiety 8. The medical oncology team monitors the laboratory values before each treatment cycle and communicates with nuclear medicine in assessing the appropriateness of continuing therapy.…”

“…We have observed that nurse-guided treatment education reduces patient anxiety. 8 The medical oncology team monitors the laboratory values before each treatment cycle and communicates with nuclear medicine in assessing the appropriateness of continuing therapy. Laboratory values are assessed before the initiation of radium-223 and before each subsequent cycle.…”