Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Cancer Part I: Survey of Oncology Nurses' Attitudes and Treatment Practices for Ambulatory Settings

Abstract

Patients with cancer have a higher incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Little information currently exists on VTE and the understanding and beliefs of oncology nurses. Therefore, the attitudes and treatment practices of ambulatory oncology nurses were surveyed to determine the current knowledge base of VTE in patients with cancer. Survey results are presented along with a thorough literature review of thromboembolism and the unique risk factors for this frequent complication in patients with cancer. The causes of VTE in this patient population often are multifactorial and include hypercoagulability, stasis, and vascular endothelial damage from procedures or the neoplastic process itself. In particular, chemotherapy administration can increase the risk of thrombosis considerably. New therapies, including thalidomide, require oncology nurses caring for these patients to have heightened awareness of the potential for thrombogenic complications. This is the first of two articles that address the problem of thromboembolism in patients with cancer, including the survey results. (See part II on page 465.) Oncology nurses are essential in the care of VTE in patients with cancer and can help with patient identification, treatment, and compliance for improved patient outcomes.

Thalidomide as Palliative Treatment in Patients with Advanced Secondary Glioblastoma

“…The side effects of TH at the low dosage of 100 mg at bedtime were mostly minimal. However, attention has to be paid to the thrombogenic activity of TH reported previously [55,56,57,58,59,60,61]. The incidence of thromboembolic complications observed in this series was in the same range as that in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas enrolled in the Cancer and Thrombosis study (CATS) of our institution [62,63,64].…”

Evaluation of hospital nurses' perceived knowledge and practices of venous thromboembolism assessment and prevention

“…Despite the Joint Commission emphasis on VTE risk assessment in all hospitalized patients, there remains a gap between current, evidence-based recommendations for VTE prevention and reported nursing practices. (J Vasc Nurs 2014;32: [18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Venous thromboembolism (VTE) manifesting as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) is a major health care problem affecting hundreds of thousands of Americans annually. Over half of these individuals develop their VTE in hospitals or in the 30 days after hospital discharge.…”

Oncology Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Factors in Cancer Pain – A Systematic Review

“…In the realm of cancer pain management, persistent training initiatives are indispensable for sustaining and augmenting the proficiency of oncology nurses in this specialized domain. The findings of the chosen study emphasized the significance of customizing treatments to unique healthcare settings, taking into account the cultural and contextual variables (Viale & Schwartz, 2004). Comprehending and dealing with these discrepancies enhance the efficacy of suggested tactics.…”