Date of Award

5-2-2014

Degree Type

Evidence-Based Project Report

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Christine P. Kurtz

Abstract

Cancer affects approximately 1.5 million people every year throughout the United States.Comprehensive care that includes psychosocial aspects is important to help patients effectively adapt to their diagnosis and treatment plan. Improper prevention and management of anxiety can lead to poor psychosocial outcomes, dissatisfaction with care, and decreased adherence to treatment. Current evidence suggests that education is effective at helping reduce anxiety in patients receiving chemotherapy for the first time. The purpose of this evidenced based practice project was to determine if nurse-led patient education regarding chemotherapy side effects, side-effect management, and orientation to the infusion center was effective at decreasing anxiety in patients receiving chemotherapy for the first time. Roy’s adaptation model provided for a theoretical framework to understand how education can increase positive adaptive responses to chemotherapy treatment. The EBP project was conducted in a large private hematology/oncology practice in Northwest Indiana. Patients recently diagnosed with cancer received 30 minutes of education regarding chemotherapy side effects, side effect management strategies, and orientation to the infusion center one week before receiving their first chemotherapy infusion. Anxiety outcomes were measured immediately before, after, and two weeks post-intervention using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A patient satisfaction survey was completed at two weeks post-intervention to assess satisfaction with the education and their perception of how well the intervention decreased anxiety. A repeated measure ANOVA was calculated comparing pre, post, and two-week post STAI scores. Results were statistically significant, demonstrating that patient education was effective at decreasing anxiety.

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