School of Nursing & Midwifery Annual Report 2018

Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, UCC

A Head and Neck Cancer Concerns Inventory that puts the Patient at the centre of the Consultation

The Story: In March 2017, a small group of researchers and clinicians in the South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) led by Dr Brendan Noonan aimed to explore the feasibility of using a previously validated Head and Neck Cancer Patient Concerns Inventory (H&N PCI) in the outpatient setting. The H&N PCI containing 57 items, is a site specific previously validated holistic needs assessment tool. The items were generated through the synthesis of issues covered in HRQoL questionnaires and discussions with various multi-disciplinary teams, developed in partnership with patients and carers and has been successfully trialled among head and neck cancer patients in the UK. The feasibility study had a number of key objectives, namely, to elicit the patient’s assessment of H&N PCI as a tool to identify their concerns more effectively during consultation; to elicit surgeon opinion about the usefulness of the PCI during clinical consultation and to assess nursing staff perceptions of PCI administration during the patient

registration process. Findings indicated that the H&N PCI is easy to adopt in clinic with minimal disruption to the routine out-patient consultation. It targets symptoms, facilitates referral and improves patient care. It makes the consultation more ‘patient centred and holistic’ and helps patients raise issues that otherwise tend to be missed. Moreover, it increases patient satisfaction with consultations. Patients, surgeons and nurses all found the H&N PCI to be a feasible tool to use in the outpatient setting. In October 2018, the H&N PCI was formally implemented as part of standard care delivery in the SIVUH for patients post head and neck cancer treatment. The Team: Dr Brendan Noonan (Lead Researcher), Ms Deirdre Callanan; Ms Ruth Lernihan; Professor Josephine Hegarty and the clinical team at South Infirmary Victoria Hospital Cork (SIVUH).

The H&N PCI can be easily sustained & integrated in clinical practice as part of current & future service delivery plans.

HIGHLIGHTS

The H&N PCI ensures services are timely & provided in line with patient needs.

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