title: An evaluation of the quality of a chemotherapy administration service established by nurses in an oncology day care centre.
abstract: Traditionally, chemotherapy administration has been a medical role in Hong Kong. In 1998, two chemotherapy nurses took over part of this role within a major oncology day care centre after completing a course in chemotherapy administration and patient care. The aim of this study was to measure and evaluate the quality of care by using a self-developed audit form and the Worthing Chemotherapy Satisfaction Questionnaire (WSCQ). All records of patients who had had i.v. cannulas inserted by nurses over a period of one year were audited for the accuracy of the i.v. cannulation (n=2217). Also, patient satisfaction was assessed in 50 patients. The results showed that the accuracy of i.v. cannulation was kept constantly above 80% from the eighth month of auditing onwards. It was also found that patients preferred the use of a butterfly needle for the administration of chemotherapy. The study revealed that the level of information received regarding treatment (r=0.36, P=0.011) and satisfaction of practical advice on caring for side effects (r=0.35, P=0.012) were determinants of patients' overall satisfaction. Furthermore, anxiety when patients received chemotherapy could also be associated with overall satisfaction (r=-0.27), although the P value was of borderline significance only (P=0.58). In conclusion, the study reflected a high level of quality of care in relation to this element of nurse-led practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong. ymlee61@hotmail.com
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Mun
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ping
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Fai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Ki
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Jing