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Exploring nursing outcomes for patients with advanced cancer following intervention by Macmillan specialist palliative care nurses

Exploring nursing outcomes for patients with advanced cancer following intervention by Macmillan specialist palliative care nurses
Exploring nursing outcomes for patients with advanced cancer following intervention by Macmillan specialist palliative care nurses
Background. Little information exists about the outcomes from nursing interventions, and few studies report new approaches to evaluating the complex web of effects that may result from specialist nursing care.
Aims. The aim of this study was to explore nursing outcomes for patients with advanced cancer that may be identified as resulting from the care of a Macmillan specialist palliative care nurse.
Methods/instruments. Seventy-six patients referred to 12 United Kingdom Macmillan specialist palliative care nursing services participated in a longitudinal study of their care over 28 days. Patients were interviewed and completed the European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Scale and the Palliative Care Outcomes Scale at referral, and 3, 7 and 28 days following referral to a Macmillan specialist palliative care nursing service. A nominated carer was interviewed at baseline and 28 days. Notes recorded by Macmillan specialist palliative care nurses in relation to each patient case were analysed.
Findings. Significant improvements in emotional (P = 0·03) and cognitive functioning (P = 0·03) were identified in changes in patients' European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Scale scores, and in Palliative Care Outcomes Scale patient anxiety scores (P = 0·003), from baseline to day 7. Analysis of case study data indicated that overall positive outcomes of care from Macmillan specialist palliative care nursing intervention were achieved in 42 (55%) cases.
Study limitations. Sample attrition due to patients' deteriorating condition limited the value of data from the quality of life measures. The method developed for evaluating nursing outcomes using data from patient and carer interviews and nursing records was limited by a lack of focus on outcomes of care in these data sources.
Conclusions. A method was developed for evaluating outcomes of nursing care in complex situations such as care of people who are dying. Positive outcomes of care for patients that were directly attributable to the care provided by Macmillan specialist palliative care nurses were found for the majority of patients. For a small number of patients, negative outcomes of care were identified.
palliative care nurses, nursing outcomes, cancer, palliative care, specialist nurses
0309-2402
561-574
Corner, J.
eddc9d69-aa12-4de5-8ab0-b20a6b5765fa
Halliday, D.
b93d10f9-26b0-46ae-9e95-cbebac9d9aa3
Douglas, H.R.
3545773a-11ca-4424-9799-f4b8b7425e4f
Haviland, J.S.
569aa43b-15bd-4e9d-b4a5-e68a84334cfe
Bath, P.
741a6ac6-1929-47e3-b8e2-6d9af8b8399c
Clark, D.
0943b0f5-3f40-41b6-8386-a30c5dfcce9e
Normand, C.
f8307c24-2875-4b85-89f6-c356dee0cba0
Beech, N.
43d37ae7-c351-4a02-ac54-dbe3a46009a0
Hughes, P.
5bd3dd2d-388a-42af-b26b-3b6915ae563d
Marples, R.
a81596dc-e384-4ee0-ad19-77c1a803edde
Seymour, J.
c6e4fb93-71b5-4c4b-bd7f-f8edb9a3474b
Skilbeck, J.
5c5eb40e-206f-42a7-8fb5-1ec07503d51c
Webb, T.
938e7323-840d-45f5-96f2-eb7b5591fd20
Corner, J.
eddc9d69-aa12-4de5-8ab0-b20a6b5765fa
Halliday, D.
b93d10f9-26b0-46ae-9e95-cbebac9d9aa3
Douglas, H.R.
3545773a-11ca-4424-9799-f4b8b7425e4f
Haviland, J.S.
569aa43b-15bd-4e9d-b4a5-e68a84334cfe
Bath, P.
741a6ac6-1929-47e3-b8e2-6d9af8b8399c
Clark, D.
0943b0f5-3f40-41b6-8386-a30c5dfcce9e
Normand, C.
f8307c24-2875-4b85-89f6-c356dee0cba0
Beech, N.
43d37ae7-c351-4a02-ac54-dbe3a46009a0
Hughes, P.
5bd3dd2d-388a-42af-b26b-3b6915ae563d
Marples, R.
a81596dc-e384-4ee0-ad19-77c1a803edde
Seymour, J.
c6e4fb93-71b5-4c4b-bd7f-f8edb9a3474b
Skilbeck, J.
5c5eb40e-206f-42a7-8fb5-1ec07503d51c
Webb, T.
938e7323-840d-45f5-96f2-eb7b5591fd20

Corner, J., Halliday, D., Douglas, H.R., Haviland, J.S., Bath, P., Clark, D., Normand, C., Beech, N., Hughes, P., Marples, R., Seymour, J., Skilbeck, J. and Webb, T. (2003) Exploring nursing outcomes for patients with advanced cancer following intervention by Macmillan specialist palliative care nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 41 (6), 561-574. (doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.2003.02568.x). (PMID:12622865)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background. Little information exists about the outcomes from nursing interventions, and few studies report new approaches to evaluating the complex web of effects that may result from specialist nursing care.
Aims. The aim of this study was to explore nursing outcomes for patients with advanced cancer that may be identified as resulting from the care of a Macmillan specialist palliative care nurse.
Methods/instruments. Seventy-six patients referred to 12 United Kingdom Macmillan specialist palliative care nursing services participated in a longitudinal study of their care over 28 days. Patients were interviewed and completed the European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Scale and the Palliative Care Outcomes Scale at referral, and 3, 7 and 28 days following referral to a Macmillan specialist palliative care nursing service. A nominated carer was interviewed at baseline and 28 days. Notes recorded by Macmillan specialist palliative care nurses in relation to each patient case were analysed.
Findings. Significant improvements in emotional (P = 0·03) and cognitive functioning (P = 0·03) were identified in changes in patients' European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Scale scores, and in Palliative Care Outcomes Scale patient anxiety scores (P = 0·003), from baseline to day 7. Analysis of case study data indicated that overall positive outcomes of care from Macmillan specialist palliative care nursing intervention were achieved in 42 (55%) cases.
Study limitations. Sample attrition due to patients' deteriorating condition limited the value of data from the quality of life measures. The method developed for evaluating nursing outcomes using data from patient and carer interviews and nursing records was limited by a lack of focus on outcomes of care in these data sources.
Conclusions. A method was developed for evaluating outcomes of nursing care in complex situations such as care of people who are dying. Positive outcomes of care for patients that were directly attributable to the care provided by Macmillan specialist palliative care nurses were found for the majority of patients. For a small number of patients, negative outcomes of care were identified.

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More information

Published date: 6 March 2003
Keywords: palliative care nurses, nursing outcomes, cancer, palliative care, specialist nurses
Organisations: Faculty of Health Sciences

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Local EPrints ID: 365411
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/365411
ISSN: 0309-2402
PURE UUID: 30918a0c-a438-48ce-a3e6-60f4018935b1

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Date deposited: 04 Jun 2014 14:02
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 16:53

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Contributors

Author: J. Corner
Author: D. Halliday
Author: H.R. Douglas
Author: J.S. Haviland
Author: P. Bath
Author: D. Clark
Author: C. Normand
Author: N. Beech
Author: P. Hughes
Author: R. Marples
Author: J. Seymour
Author: J. Skilbeck
Author: T. Webb

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