Do patients with breast cancer participating in clinical trials receive better nursing care?

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To examine differences in nursing care received by patients with breast cancer enrolled in clinical trials and those not enrolled in clinical trials.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of clinic charts.

SETTING

Oncology outpatient department of a tertiary-care hospital.

SAMPLE

90 women with early stage breast cancer. The mean age of the women was 53 years. More than half of the women (51 of 90) were treated in a clinical trial.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of all the nurse-patient clinic encounters for a six-month period from date of cancer diagnosis. The content of each encounter was coded using a modified version of the Nursing Action Classification System.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES

Nursing interventions (i.e., assessment, medical scheduling, psychosocial scheduling, reassurance, and teaching) and phone calls.

FINDINGS

Women enrolled in clinical trials had more phone interactions with nursing staff (p = 0.003) and received teaching (p < 0.001) and reassurance (p = 0.005) from nursing staff more often than women not enrolled in clinical trials. Controlling for age and stage of disease, teaching (p < 0.001), and reassurance (p = 0.10) were the primary differences in nursing care between the patients enrolled in clinical trials and those not enrolled.

CONCLUSION

Differences in nursing care received exist between patients with breast cancer enrolled in clinical trials and those not enrolled.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Both teaching and reassurance are important components of caring for patients with cancer and are associated with treatment compliance. If the results of this study are confirmed, measures must be employed to ensure that all patients receive optimal care.