Nurse-Led telephonic symptom support for patients receiving chemotherapy

Abstract

PROBLEM STATEMENT: The use of evidence-informed symptom guides has not been widely adopted in telephonic support. DESIGN: This is a descriptive study of nurse-led support using evidence-based symptom guides during telephone outreach. DATA SOURCES: Documentation quantified telephone encounters by frequency, length, and type of patient-reported symptoms. Nurse interviews examined perceptions of their role and the use of symptom guides. ANALYSIS: Quantitative data were summarized using univariate descriptive statistics, and interviews were analyzed using directed descriptive content analysis. FINDINGS: Symptom guides were viewed as trusted evidence-based resources, suitable to address common treatment-related symptoms. A threshold effect was a reported barrier of the guides, such that the benefit diminished over time for managing recurring symptoms. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Telephone outreach using evidence-based symptom guides can contribute to early symptom identification while engaging patients in decision making. Understanding nurse activities aids in developing an economical and high-quality model for symptom support, as well as in encouraging nurses to practice at the highest level of preparation.