title: Patients' outcomes related to person-centred nursing care in radiation oncology: A case study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this case study is to describe patients' responses to nursing care following the implementation of a person-centred model in a radiation oncology department.
  
  
  METHODS
  An instrumental case study design utilised surveys to collect data on a range of key patient outcomes: patient satisfaction (PSS), informational issues (RSEP), quality of life (FACT_G), comfort (RTCQ), and emotional status (HADS). This occurred at the beginning of, and twelve months following, the implementation of the new model of care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study demonstrated that, although adverse effects of radiotherapy continue to affect patient well-being in the latter part of their course of radiation therapy, patients continue to be satisfied with nursing care. There were significant differences between groups in perceptions of the care environment and the use of the nurse as an acknowledged source of information are noteworthy, since these variables were key targets of the new model of care. The finding that nurses were seen by the post-implementation cohort as more likely to be a source of information is an important indicator that the nurses' presence was noted by patients, and they generally reported high levels of functioning despite undergoing a curative course of radiotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The person-centred nursing approach in the radiotherapy setting has contributed to some improvements in the provision of patient care. Aspects of this study may assist in planning further nursing interventions for patients undergoing radiotherapy for cancer, and continue to enhance the contribution of the radiation oncology nurse to improved patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: 2 River Cove Place Helensvale 4212 Queensland Australia. Electronic address: prose@cheerful.com.
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove 4059 Queensland Australia.
authors.forename: Patsy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yates
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011793:Queensland; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Nursing; Patient outcomes; Person-centred care; Radiation oncology