Congress Abstracts 2006

237

EXAMINING PATIENT EDUCATION NEEDS RELATED TO TREATMENT OF LUNG CANCER: AGE-RELATED ANALYSIS IN 9 NURSING-SENSITIVE PATIENT OUTCOMES. Beverly Davis, RN, MSN, AOCN^®, and Judith Petersen, RN, MN, AOCN^®, Nexcura, Seattle, WA.

Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of death among men and women; research for improved treatment is ongoing. Developments including expanded use of combined modality therapy pose a challenge to nurses addressing patients' educational needs. Little is known regarding patient perspective on adequacy of education about specific symptoms and adverse treatment effects.

The purpose was to evaluate patient satisfaction with education about individual symptoms and adverse effects. Because symptoms and adverse effects correlate with ONS-defined Nursing Sensitive Patient Outcomes or NSPOs (a priority topic in the ONS 2005-2009 Research Agenda), findings can be used in planning improved patient education in NSPOs.

The work was guided by ONS Standards of Education and the UCSF Symptom Management Model.

Patients completed a survey regarding satisfaction with education provided by health care professionals. All patients who had registered electronically to NexCura's Lung Cancer Treatment Option Tool between August 2004 and March 2005 were invited to participate; the survey was sent 3-9 months after their use of the Tool. Patients were asked to rank each topic, including 9 NSPOs, individually on a scale from very satisfied through very dissatisfied. 1,362 (13.2%) of 10,317 invitees completed the survey. Reported levels of dissatisfaction were compared among 9 NSPOs. Additionally, dissatisfaction among patients <70 was compared with patients 70 and >.

Of the 1,362 respondents (417 small cell and 945 non-small cell), 23.7% were age 70 or >. Among all ages combined, topics about which dissatisfaction was greatest were psychosocial distress (dissatisfaction reported by 29.4% +/- 2.76%, 95%CI) and hearing loss (27.5% +/- 3.19). The topic with least dissatisfaction was nausea/vomiting (nausea 10.6% +/- 1.75). Among patients <70 years, greatest dissatisfaction was with psychosocial distress and hearing loss. Among patients 70 or >, greatest dissatisfaction was with psychosocial distress, hearing loss, and radiation-related dyspnea/cough. In this group of 1,362 patients, elderly patients' satisfaction with education was not significantly different from younger patients. The NSPO in which educational needs are met most consistently is nausea/vomiting. Findings support the need for improved education regarding hearing loss and psychosocial distress.