title: Assessment and resource utilization for cancer patients.
abstract: To determine whether rehabilitation counselors and nurses differ in their approaches to using assessment information in care planning, 70 oncology outpatients returning to a comprehensive cancer center for continuing health care were asked to indicate their rehabilitation problems on a checklist. Follow-up consisted of clarifying problems and making relevant resources available to patients. Forty-five patients were followed by a clinic nurse (RN) whose expanded role included assessment and resource utilization functions; 25 were followed by a rehabilitation counselor (RC) whose only role was to perform assessment and resource utilization functions. The RC was found to address a significantly higher proportion of patient problems than the RNs (z = 6.94, p less than .0005). Both the RCs and RNs used many different resources to meet patient needs (43 vs 51). However, RNs used themselves as a resource for 51% of the problems addressed whereas the RC used the RN for 14% of problems addressed (z = -6.01, p less than .0005). Delegation of assessment and resource utilization functions to staff members as a sole responsibility may be an effective way to incorporate rehabilitation into an outpatient oncology setting.
mesh_terms: D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D003376:Counseling; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012017:Referral and Consultation