None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study will determine the effect of a shared care pathway intervention on unplanned presentations to hospital, physical and psychosocial health of chemotherapy outpatients. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 18 years or above and have been diagnosed with any cancer (except for haematological cancers) and are commencing the first cycle of chemotherapy as an outpatient. Study details Participants in this study are randomly allocated (by chance) to one of two groups. Participants in one group will receive home visits from a community nurse during the first three cycles of chemotherapy as well as usual care and support from their oncologist and staff at the cancer centre. The community nurse visits will focus on assessment of the patient’s general health, physical and psychosocial wellbeing, with emphasis on chemotherapy-related problems. Participants in the other group will only receive usual care and support from their oncologist and staff at the cancer centre. Participants will be followed up until the end of the third cycle to determine any unplanned hospital presentations, quality of life, physical and other psychosocial health outcomes.
Interventions
The intervention involves a set number of community nurse (CN) contacts during the patients' first three cycles of chemotherapy (usually 21 days, but this can vary depending on chemotherapy regimen used). CNs will visit patients at home, two visits for each cycle of chemotherapy, and assess patients' general physical and psychosocial wellbeing, provide care for chemotherapy side effects and assess patients' and carers' understanding of chemotherapy regimens. Each visit will take approximately on
The intervention involves a set number of community nurse (CN) contacts during the patients' first three cycles of chemotherapy (usually 21 days, but this can vary depending on chemotherapy regimen used). CNs will visit patients at home, two visits for each cycle of chemotherapy, and assess patients' general physical and psychosocial wellbeing, provide care for chemotherapy side effects and assess patients' and carers' understanding of chemotherapy regimens. Each visit will take approximately one hour to complete, but this may vary depending on patient needs. CNs will liaise with the patients' GP and cancer centre regarding patients' treatment needs.
Sponsors
The University of Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1) Over 18 years of age; 2) Commencing their first cycle of chemotherapy as an outpatient at one of the participating cancer centres; 3) Fully aware of their cancer diagnosis; 4) Residing at one of the suburbs serviced by the community centres enrolled in the study, for the duration of the study.
Exclusion criteria
1) Unable to give informed consent; 2) Receiving treatment for haematological cancers; 3) Receiving concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 4) Non English Speaking
Outcome results
None listed