Do patients with breast cancer participating in clinical trials receive better nursing care?
OBJECTIVE
To examine differences in nursing care received by patients with breast cancer enrolled in clinical trials and those not enrolled in clinical trials.


METHODS
Retrospective review of clinic charts.


METHODS
Oncology outpatient department of a tertiary-care hospital.


METHODS
90 women with early stage breast cancer. The mean age of the women was 53 years. More than half of the women (51 of 90) were treated in a clinical trial.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review of all the nurse-patient clinic encounters for a six-month period from date of cancer diagnosis. The content of each encounter was coded using a modified version of the Nursing Action Classification System.


METHODS
Nursing interventions (i.e., assessment, medical scheduling, psychosocial scheduling, reassurance, and teaching) and phone calls.


RESULTS
Women enrolled in clinical trials had more phone interactions with nursing staff (p = 0.003) and received teaching (p < 0.001) and reassurance (p = 0.005) from nursing staff more often than women not enrolled in clinical trials. Controlling for age and stage of disease, teaching (p < 0.001), and reassurance (p = 0.10) were the primary differences in nursing care between the patients enrolled in clinical trials and those not enrolled.


CONCLUSIONS
Differences in nursing care received exist between patients with breast cancer enrolled in clinical trials and those not enrolled.


CONCLUSIONS
Both teaching and reassurance are important components of caring for patients with cancer and are associated with treatment compliance. If the results of this study are confirmed, measures must be employed to ensure that all patients receive optimal care.
Skrutkowska
M
M
Hematology/Oncology Service, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada.
Weijer
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009731:Nursing Audit; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000592:standards*; D009737:Nursing Records; D011792:Quebec; D012189:Retrospective Studies