CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSES IN ONCOLOGY
(CANO/ACIO) September 11-14, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
In Brief
Already known
Many of the safeguards built into intravenous
chemotherapy administration are missing with the use of oral chemotherapy.
Patients and families take on more responsibility
for the safe administration of oral chemotherapy and monitoring
of side effects, and thus require in-depth education and effective
tools.
What this study showed
An interprofessional team approach is
key to the safe management of patients being treated with oral
chemotherapy.
Technology will be useful if appropriate
tools can be generated in an efficient and accurate manner.
Next steps
The Sudbury team plans to have approval
for the policy changes this fall and a rollout of new practice
changes in January 2012.
A system-wide education plan to incorporate
strategies into practice is required.
Practice changes will be supported with
checklists, education and assessment tools, and possibly an educational
video or weekly patient education classes, including reaching
out by telemedicine.
Outcomes will be measured by pre-
and post-testing of 50 patients.
