Home visits by community nurses for cancer patients after discharge from hospital: an evaluation study of the continuity visit.
After discharge from the hospital, patients with cancer can have several problems at home. In this project, patients with cancer, who at time of discharge from the hospital were not indicated for nursing care at home, were offered three home visits by a community nurse. A prospective, descriptive study was undertaken to assess indicators of usefulness of these "continuity visits." It was registered how many and what patients [sex, age, (time of) diagnosis, social support, therapy] wanted to receive the visit. Care needs, as mentioned by the patients during the continuity visits, were reported after the visit by the community nurse. Both patients and community nurses completed an evaluation form after the first visit. A continuity visit was offered to 337 patients; 112 patients received a first, 50 a second, and 24 a third continuity visit. Older patients, patients without social support, and those diagnosed less than half a year before more often agreed to received a first visit. Reasons for patients not receiving a second or third visit were either that patients did not want one or on the contrary they were in need of immediate nursing care or had died before the visit. Two weeks after discharge, 93% of the patients experienced one or more physical, psychological, or social problems; 70% mentioned a need for information; and 47% needed emotional support. Both patients and community nurses evaluate the first visit positively. The findings suggest that continuation of the offer of the first continuity visit could be useful.
van Harteveld
J T
JT
Research Center Primary/Secondary Healthcare, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Mistiaen
P J
PJ
Dukkers van Emden
D M
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare / Q000592:standards*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010351:Patient Discharge; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies