Optimising the care of patients receiving oral systemic anti-cancer treatments: a mixed methods study
type: CreativeWork
description: Background: The use of oral systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT) has increased significantly in recent decades. Patient experience of receiving these treatments is relatively unknown and under-reported. In response to national recommendations and the National Patient Safety alert (2008) regarding the safe care of patients receiving an oral SACT, a local cancer centre implemented a joint nurse- and pharmacist-led oral education clinic (OEC) to educate patients on how to manage their oral SACT and care at home. Aim: To explore the experiences and views of patients receiving oral SACT to inform models of care. Methodology: An applied health research study using a mixed-methods approach was conducted. The study included a questionnaire survey distributed to patients who attended the OEC, and a second questionnaire posted 6 weeks later. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse results from the 84 respondents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sub-sample of 28 questionnaire respondents and with 23 health professionals, which were analysed using Framework (Ritchie and Spencer, 1994). Integration of data sets was achieved through ‘Following a Thread’ (Moran-Ellis et al, 2006). Results: Patients held strong beliefs about the importance of taking their oral SACT medication, and preferred oral to intravenous administration. Patients were satisfied with the OEC, but some identified a lack of information on treatment efficacy and living well with cancer. No preference was reported regarding SACT nurse or cancer pharmacist delivered education. The idea of telephone follow-up was welcomed by most study participants; patient experience of side effects suggests this would be best placed within the first and second week of commencing oral SACT. All patients established a routine in taking their medication, which contributed to high levels of adherence. Instances of non-adherence were unintentional and attributed to forgetfulness. A typology of activation to self-ma…
abstract: Background: The use of oral systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT) has increased significantly in recent decades. Patient experience of receiving these treatments is relatively unknown and under-reported. In response to national recommendations and the National Patient Safety alert (2008) regarding the safe care of patients receiving an oral SACT, a local cancer centre implemented a joint nurse- and pharmacist-led oral education clinic (OEC) to educate patients on how to manage their oral SACT and care at home. Aim: To explore the experiences and views of patients receiving oral SACT to inform models of care. Methodology: An applied health research study using a mixed-methods approach was conducted. The study included a questionnaire survey distributed to patients who attended the OEC, and a second questionnaire posted 6 weeks later. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse results from the 84 respondents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sub-sample of 28 questionnaire respondents and with 23 health professionals, which were analysed using Framework (Ritchie and Spencer, 1994). Integration of data sets was achieved through ‘Following a Thread’ (Moran-Ellis et al, 2006). Results: Patients held strong beliefs about the importance of taking their oral SACT medication, and preferred oral to intravenous administration. Patients were satisfied with the OEC, but some identified a lack of information on treatment efficacy and living well with cancer. No preference was reported regarding SACT nurse or cancer pharmacist delivered education. The idea of telephone follow-up was welcomed by most study participants; patient experience of side effects suggests this would be best placed within the first and second week of commencing oral SACT. All patients established a routine in taking their medication, which contributed to high levels of adherence. Instances of non-adherence were unintentional and attributed to forgetfulness. A typology of activation to self-ma…
author: Mawhinney, Michael William Robert
language: en
date published: 2019
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:43:12Z
provider: Oxford Brookes University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Oxford Brookes University

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.24384/pt9p-0d40