title: Support for Patients and Family Caregivers in Lung Cancer: Educational Components of an Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Intervention.
abstract: Consistent with the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine Report on quality cancer care, attention to symptom management and quality of life concerns of patients with lung cancer should be addressed throughout the disease trajectory. As part of a NCI-funded Program Project grant, this paper reports on the patient and family caregiver education component of a nurse-lead, tailored palliative care intervention for patients with early (I-III, n=130) and late (IV, n=142) stage lung cancer. Patients and family caregivers received 4 separate educational sessions organized around the Quality of Life model domains (physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being). Each patient and caregiver was presented at a weekly interdisciplinary case conference which also informed the educational sessions. Based on needs and team suggestions, an individualized palliative care plan was created and a tailored educational intervention was designed based on topics chosen by each participant. The most common topics chosen by patients in each domain were fatigue, worry and fear, social support/isolation, and hope. Family caregivers most commonly chose fatigue, worry and fear, communication, and purpose and meaning in life. The mean time spent in each teaching session ranged from 31 to 44 minutes for patients and 25 to 35 minutes for family caregivers. There is a vital need for interdisciplinary palliative care interventions for patients across all stages and across the disease trajectory. Nurses are vital to integrating palliative care into routine care. Providing a tailored educational intervention is an important aspect of palliative care for patients and family caregivers. This paper focuses on the process of the tailored educational intervention.
authors.affiliation: Senior Research Specialist, Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA 91010.
authors.forename: Tami
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Borneman
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA 91010.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Senior Research Specialist, Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA 91010.
authors.forename: Anna Cathy
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Research Specialist, Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA 91010.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fujinami
authors.affiliation: Senior Research Specialist, Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA 91010.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del Ferraro
authors.affiliation: Professional Practice Leader, Department of Clinical Practice and Professional Education, City of Hope, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA 91010.
authors.forename: Peggy S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Burhenn
authors.affiliation: Chaplain, Sheri & Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center, City of Hope, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA 91010.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Irish
authors.affiliation: Assistant Clinical Professor, Clinical Supportive Care, City of Hope, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA 91010.
authors.forename: Finly
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zachariah
authors.affiliation: Assistant Clinical Professor, Clinical Supportive Care, City of Hope, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA 91010.
authors.forename: Carin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Zyl
authors.affiliation: Associate Clinical Professor, Clinical Supportive Care, City of Hope, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA 91010.
authors.forename: Sorin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buga
keywords: educational intervention; lung cancer; oncology; palliative care