Congress Abstracts 2003

86

SERVING MINORITIES: CREATING A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO MEET THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF MULTICULTURAL INDIGENT GYNECOLOGIC CANCER PATIENTS. JoAnn Saldua, RN, BSN, OCN^®, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA.

The importance of patient education has been well documented throughout the healthcare field. Proper education about one’s own cancer diagnosis can lead to increased compliance with treatment and increased awareness of when and where to access supportive care in emergency situations. The Northern Virginia area is one of the most culturally diverse areas within the United States. Nearly 80% of the entire state’s immigrants reside within its 4 small counties. These residents have arrived from more than 170 different countries. In over 100,000 Northern Virginia households, English is not the primary language. When faced with such diversity, patient education becomes not only a challenge in the healthcare arena but also a necessity.

Through collaborative efforts with an obstetrical/gynecological clinic at a 626-bed not-for-profit hospital, oncology nurses in a community-based cancer support program have been able to make positive strides in helping to meet the educational needs of its multicultural indigent gynecological cancer patient population. Prior to the development and implementation of this collaborative effort, it was recognized that patients were provided little educational support before beginning treatment interventions. This left many without the knowledge of how to manage and control side effects from treatment including, but not limited to, nausea/vomiting, peripheral neuropathy, mucositis, alopecia, fatigue, pain management, and appetite changes. Overcoming language barriers, organizing translated educational material, accessing community resources, rounding with physicians, and providing one-on-one supportive contact with patients and their families have proven effective in serving this population of patients. These patients are empowered and encouraged to meet the challenges that evolve through their own cancer journey. This is evident by the active roles they take on in their own care.

Cases will be presented along with highlighted material and steps to which barriers were overcome through oncology nursing intervention. The milestones made in developing this collaborative approach to providing and meeting high standards of oncology care among the multicultural indigent gynecological cancer patient will also be depicted.