title: Oncology Nurses' Attitudes Toward the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System: Results From a Large Cancer Care Ontario Study.
abstract: To examine oncology nurses' attitudes toward and reported use of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and to determine whether the length of work experience and presence of oncology certification are associated with their attitudes and reported usage. .
  
  
  
  Exploratory, mixed-methods study employing a questionnaire approach. .
  
  
  
  14 regional cancer centers (RCCs) in Ontario, Canada. .
  
  
  
  Oncology nurses who took part in a larger province-wide study that surveyed 960 interdisciplinary providers in oncology care settings at all of Ontario's 14 RCCs. .
  
  
  
  Oncology nurses' attitudes and use of ESAS were measured using a 21-item investigator-developed questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Kendall's tau-b or tau-c test were used for data analyses. Qualitative responses were analyzed using content analysis. .
  
  
  
  Attitudes toward and self-reported use of standardized symptom screening and ESAS. .
  
  
  
  More than half of the participants agreed that ESAS improves symptom screening, most said they would encourage their patients to complete ESAS, and most felt that managing symptoms is within their scope of practice and clinical responsibilities. Qualitative comments provided additional information elucidating the quantitative responses. Statistical analyses revealed that oncology nurses who have 10 years or less of work experience were more likely to agree that the use of standardized, valid instruments to screen for and assess symptoms should be considered best practice, ESAS improves symptom screening, and ESAS enables them to better manage patients' symptoms. No statistically significant difference was found between oncology-certified RNs and noncertified RNs on attitudes or reported use of ESAS. .
  
  
  
  Implementing a population-based symptom screening approach is a major undertaking. The current study found that oncology nurses recognize the value of standardized screening, as demonstrated by their attitudes toward ESAS. .
  
  
  
  Oncology nurses are integral to providing high-quality person-centered care. Using standardized approaches that enable patients to self-report symptoms and understanding barriers and enablers to optimal use of patient-reported outcome tools can improve the quality of patient care.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Ontario.
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.affiliation: William Osler Health Services.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chasen
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Ontario.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amernic
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Shabestari
authors.affiliation: Queen's University in Kingston.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brundage
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto.
authors.forename: Monika K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Krzyzanowska
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klinger
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Ontario.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: College of Family Physicians of Canada.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D009864:Ontario; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: oncology nurses; patient-reported outcomes; person-centered care 