Experience of oncology nurses with cancer survivors during transition from acute oncology treatment to primary care

Guang Sun, Manon Lemonde, Dominique Tremblay

Abstract


Background: Cancer care for Canadian cancer survivors remains fragmented. Little is known about the experience of Canadian oncology nurses providing cancer care for cancer survivors, as they transition from acute treatment to primary care. 

Objectives: This study aimed to (1) explore the experience of oncology nurses dealing with fragmented cancer care for cancer survivors in transition to survivorship; (2) identify oncology nurses’ perspectives about what promotes or inhibits their delivery of quality cancer care; and (3) obtain their suggestions to improve cancer care.

Design: This study used a phenomenological design to explore the experience of oncology nurses in caring for cancer survivors during transition to survivorship and examine how the nurse participants describe their experience. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach was used to develop themes from the data.

Results: Three oncology nurses participated in this study. The following five themes emerged: (1) Under personal transition: nursing assessment, symptoms management, patient education, resources offered, refusing label of cancer survivors, promoting adjustment to a new normal life, promoting return to work, and recognizing meaning of survivorship; (2) Under cancer survivor’s care transition: promoting self-care management,  communication, and maximal recovery of body functions; (3) Under nurse’s positive experience promoting delivery of quality cancer care: caring for cancer survivors, experience and knowledge, and advocate for cancer survivors; (4) Under barriers that negatively affected delivery of cancer care: low socioeconomic status (especially low income), cultures and languages barriers, and limited time providing nursing care; and (5) Suggestions to improve cancer care: establishing a new position – primary nurse, increasing the number of healthcare professionals, and improving knowledge, skills, and experience.

Conclusion: Oncology nurses’ knowledge and experience provide a good foundation for quality cancer care and contribute to the health and wellbeing of cancer survivors.

Keywords: oncology nurses, cancer care, treatment transition


Full Text:

PDF

References


Bouya, S., Balouchi, A., Maleknejad, A., Koochakzai, M., AlKhasawneh, E., & Abdollahimohammad, A. (2018). Cancer pain management among oncology nurses: Knowledge, attitude, related factors, and clinical recommendations: A systematic review. Journal of Cancer Education. 34(5), 839–846. https://link-springer-com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/article/10.1007%2Fs13187-018-1433-6

Chan, R. J., Button, E., Thomas, A., Gates, P., & Yates, P. (2018). Nurses attitudes and practices towards provision of survivorship care for people with a hematological cancer on completion of treatment. Supportive Care in Cancer, 26(5), 1401–1409. doi:10.1007/s00520-017-3972-5

Caron, M., Durand, M.-J., & Tremblay, D. (2017). Interventions to support the return-to-work process after cancer: A literature review. Santé Publique, 29(5), 655–664.

Fortin, B., Silveira, A., & Tremblay, D. (2022). Tackling the next taboo in cancer: The urgency of talking about and addressing financial toxicity. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice. doi:10.1097/or9.0000000000000072

Garcia-Vivar, C., Elizondo, N., & Ambrosio, L. (2019). Primary care nursing is essential to fully implement survivorship care plans for long-term cancer survivors and their families. Cancer Nursing, 42(3), 177–178. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0000000000000704

Grant, M., Economou, D., & Ferrell, B. R. (2010). Oncology nurse participation in survivorship care. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 14(6), 709–715. https://doi.org/10.1188/10.CJON.709-715

Hullmann, S. E., Robb, S. L., & Rand, K. L. (2016). Life goals in patients with cancer: A systematic review of the literature. Psycho-oncology, 25(4), 387–399. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.3852

Irwin, M., Klemp, J. R., Glennon, C. & Frazier, L. (2011). Oncology nurses’ perspectives on the state of cancer survivorship care: Current practice and barriers to implementation. Oncology Nursing Forum, 38(1), E11–19. http://search.proquest.com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/docview/822931398?accountid=14694

Khan, N. F., Harrison, S., Rose, P. W., Ward, A. & Evans, J. (2012). Interpretation and acceptance of the term ‘cancer survivor’: A United Kingdom-based qualitative study. European Journal of Cancer Care 21, 177–186

Mazanec, S. R., Gallagher, P., Miano, W. R., Sattar, A., & Daly, B. J. (2017). Comprehensive assessment of cancer survivors’ concerns to inform program development. The Journal of Community and Supportive Oncology (JCSO), 15(3): e155–e162. https://www.mdedge.com/hematology-oncology/article/141529/patient-survivor-care/comprehensive-assessment-cancer-survivors

Mcfarlane, S., & Bennett, C. (2006). Redefining the primary nurse role in oncology care: A 21st century perspective. Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal, 16(2), 99–103. https://doi.org/10.5737/1181912x16299103

Schulman-Green, D., Bradley, E. H., Nicholson, J., Nicholas R, George, E., Indeck, A., & McCorkle, R. (2012). One step at a time: Self-management and transitions among women with ovarian cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 39(4), 354. doi:10.1188/12.ONF.354-360)

Schumacher, K. L., & Meleis, A. I. (1994). Transitions: A central concept in nursing. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 26(2), 119–127. doi:10.1111/j.1547-5069.1994.tb00929.x

Smith, J., Flowers, P., & Larkin, M. (2009). Interpretative phenomenological analysis: Theory, method and research. SAGE.

Smolowitz, J., Speakman, E., Wojnar, D., Whelan, E., Ulrich, S., Hayes, C., & Wood, L. (2015). Role of the registered nurse in primary health care: Meeting health care needs in the 21st Century. Nursing Outlook, 63(2), 130–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2014.08.004

Wood, S. K. (2018). Transition to cancer survivorship: A concept analysis. Advances in Nursing Science, 41(2), 145–160. doi:10.1097/ANS.0000000000000190

Wynendaele, H., Willems, R., & Trybou, J. (2019). Systematic review: Association between the patient–nurse ratio and nurse outcomes in acute care hospitals. Journal of Nursing Management. https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/doi/full/10.1111/jonm.12764

Young, A. M., Charalambous, A., Owen, R. I., Njodzeka, B., Oldenmenger, W. H., Alqudimat, M. R., & So, W. K. (2020). Essential oncology nursing care along the cancer continuum. The Lancet Oncology, 21(12), e555–e563.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Bookmark and Share