Making cancer bearable: The Interlink Community Cancer Nurses model of supportive care

Abstract

Most cancer patients and their families experience the full impact of their diagnosis and the disruptions cancer brings to their lives in their own homes and communities. Access to supportive care programs within the community is critical if we are to assist these individuals in coping and adjusting to the realities of cancer. Interlink Community Cancer Nurses, a nonprofit nursing agency, provides supportive care across the continuum of cancer care from early diagnosis and treatment through to remission and/or palliative care through its independent model of supportive care delivered by expert oncology nurses. The program utilizes a unique, client-centred model of care delivery to ensure that needs are met, and to link patients to community services which promote their ability to meet the demands of cancer. Interlink's program of supportive care demonstrates that oncology nurses can make a significant impact on the outcomes of cancer for individuals and their families which may impact on cost, influence survival and enhance quality of life.

A mixed-method evaluation of nurse-led community-based supportive cancer care

“…The individualized and holistic approach to care in the ICCN model based on a comprehensive understanding of needs and an ability to act independently unencumbered by prescribed service agency goals may be a critical element of the programs potential for effectiveness. The ICCN program places high value on providing care that is prescribed by the patient according to how they view their needs and is consistent with patient's values of how their needs could be met [20]. Patient-centered or individualized care approaches have been shown to impact on patient satisfaction and subsequently on health-related quality of life [43,44].…”

“…The program was modeled after the Macmillan nurse program in the United Kingdom, which provides expert advice and support to patients and families with cancer and health care professionals through home visiting and telephone support [21,22]. Similarly, Interlink nurses are specialized oncology nurses who function as independent practitioners providing direct supportive care services through home visits and telephone follow-up and use skills of advocacy and system navigation to mobilize a network of support to meet patient/ family needs working interdependently in collaboration with other providers and community agencies [20].…”

“…An important first step prior to effectiveness research is to understand how a program works to bring about change described as looking in the black box of an intervention. The Interlink Community Cancer Nursing (ICCN) program, a communitybased program of nurse-led clinical case management providing direct support and system navigation to cancer patient and their families in the home setting for over 15 years, was selected as an exemplar supportive care model for examination [20].…”

“…The ICCN program operates in a metropolitan city with a population base of 2.5 million [20]. The program was modeled after the Macmillan nurse program in the United Kingdom, which provides expert advice and support to patients and families with cancer and health care professionals through home visiting and telephone support [21,22].…”

The Impact of Specialized Oncology Nursing on Patient Supportive Care Outcomes

“…ICCN is a community-based program of nurse-led clinical case coordination in the home setting since 1987 (Howell & Jackson, 1998). This service was structured around four program components: (1) direct oncology nursing practice, (2) coordinated mobilization and linkage to services, (3) community-based education and research, and (4) community resource development (Howell et al, 2008).…”