What was the project about?
This study explored the impact of a structured nursing intervention (assessment and management of symptoms) on the actual symptoms experienced by patients receiving chemotherapy. The patient group involved women with a diagnosis of breast cancer who were receiving a course of chemotherapy.
How was the research carried out?
Patients were asked to complete a structured symptom assessment for 14 days following each cycle of chemotherapy they received. In the intervention group, the nursing staff received patients’ symptom reports and were encouraged, through a range of supportive processes, to follow evidence-based symptom management guidelines in their management of patients’ symptoms. The symptom reports from patients in the control site were sent directly to the researcher to act as a comparison.
A small sub-sample of both patient groups participated in a short interview about the symptoms they had reported and what these meant to them.
What are the findings expected to add to current practice?
This study demonstrated the impact of a nurse-led symptom management intervention on the actual symptoms experienced by women receiving chemotherapy for a diagnosis of breast cancer. Combining the quantitative and qualitative data explores the meaningfulness of evaluating symptoms using questionnaires and demonstrates the individuality of symptom experiences.
Funding Information
Nursing & Midwifery Department, University of Stirling. CCRC staff who undertake PhDs on a part-time basis are supported throughout their studies.