title: Optimizing the Benefits of Self-Monitoring Among Patients With Cancer.
abstract: To investigate oncology professionals' perspectives about, experience with, and envisioned feasibility of incorporating patient self-monitoring as a patient-centered practice.  .
  
  
  
  An interpretive, descriptive study. .
  
  
  
  Four health systems and five cancer centers in three states.  .
  
  
  
  38 nurses, nurse practitioners, oncologists, physician assistants, and radiation therapists. .
  
  
  
  Individual and focus group interviews. .
  
  
  
  Three themes were revealed.
  
  
  
  This study uncovers the potential contribution of patient self-monitoring as a means of providing patient-generated data that informs clinical decision making, going beyond self-monitoring for self-management only. Because the term self-monitoring is not used by clinicians, adoption of an agreed-upon term is recommended as the first step toward developing and implementing a self-monitoring strategy. Findings support the need to reenvision patient education to ensure self-monitoring is clinically useful while preventing an excessive focus on the negative, which may contribute to patient anxiety. .
  
  
  
  The full potential for self-monitoring by patients is not entirely reached. Because nurses are charged with providing patient education, they are strategically positioned to adopt the term self-monitoring and integrate a self-monitoring strategy into patient-centered practice.
authors: Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, University of Wyoming in Laramie.
authors: Mary Anne
authors: MA
authors: Purtzer
authors: School of Pharmacy, Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, University of Wyoming in Laramie.
authors: Carol J
authors: CJ
authors: Hermansen-Kobulnicky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D016353:Self-Examination / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: Patient education; clinical practice; decision making; qualitative nursing research; quality of life