Congress Abstracts 2005

83

PERCEIVED NEED FOR SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT IN THE OUTPATIENT UNIT. Kyra Whitmer, PhD, RN, Jane Pruemer, PharmD, BCOP, and Abdul-Rahman Jazieh, MD, MPH, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH.

It is known that oncology patients experience multiple symptoms at various times during their cancer experience. The question posed was what were the needs of our outpatient population for symptom management?

A multidisciplinary team assembled to determine the need for a symptom management clinic. Two surveys were developed for potential users, one for the outpatients and the other for the attending oncologists. Eighty five percent of these outpatients are either Medicaid or self-pay.

During a 3 week period, outpatients were approached after registering for the oncology clinic and while waiting for their appointment. Ninety five percent of the outpatients approached completed the survey.

Findings: A total of 112 surveys revealed that 71% of the outpatients would attend a symptom management clinic for relief of pain (50%), fatigue (40%), nausea/vomiting (30%), and/or sleeping difficulty (30%). A total of 16 surveys completed by oncologists revealed that outpatients could use more assistance with pain (81%), diet (75%), depression (69%), and/or fatigue (56%). Outpatients felt they would benefit from meeting with a nurse (35%), social worker (21%), dietician (18%), and/or pharmacist (18%). While oncologists felt the following would compliment care: dietician (69%), psychologist (69%), nurse (56%), and/or social worker (56%). Fifty-one percent of the outpatients indicated that they would attend a symptom management clinic and all but one oncologist would refer to this clinic.

Interpretation: Symptoms need to be addressed in the outpatient setting. Users, both outpatients and oncologists perceive benefit from a collaborative and interdisciplinary symptom management clinic.

While there exists some disconnect between perceived need for symptom management between outpatient and oncologist, it is evident that pain is the symptom of primary concern. An interdisciplinary team of oncologist, nurse, social worker, dietician, pharmacist and psychologist could collaboratively address the presenting symptoms. Outpatients are willing to attend such a clinic and oncologists will refer.