Central vascular access devices in oncology and hematology considered from a different point of view: how do patients experience their vascular access ports?
BACKGROUND
Oncology patients require long-term vascular access, but the subjective experience of having a port in daily life is not well studied.


METHODS
In a prospective study, patients at an outpatient clinic filled out a questionnaire.


METHODS
The questionnaire consisted of four questions.


RESULTS
The top three reported benefits of having a port were (1) no more peripheral venipunctures, (2) greater convenience, and (3) arms left free for activities of daily living. Patients disliked the visibility of ports and complained about site soreness.


CONCLUSIONS
Good nursing care includes the ability to provide optimal care and maintenance of the vascular access device, but understanding the patients' point of view is an added value.
Goossens
Godelieve A
GA
Surgical Oncology Department, University Hospitals, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Vrebos
Marc
M
Stas
Marguerite
M
De Wever
Ivo
I
Frederickx
Lutgarde
L
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D009426:Netherlands; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016748:Venous Cutdown / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology