Nurse-Led Consultation and Symptom Burden in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Comparative Analysis of Routine Clinical Data

Abstract

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients experience distressing symptoms that can significantly impact their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We analyzed the implementation of a nurse-led consultation (NLC) and explored potential associations with symptom burden in HNC patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed routinely collected data to describe the implementation of the nurse-led interventions and the evolution of the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory scores as patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Patients who received routine care (n = 72) were compared with patients in the NLC group (n = 62) at a radiation oncology unit between 2017 and 2019. PROMs were measured at T0 (between simulation and the first week of radiotherapy), T1 (week 3–4), and T2 (week 5–6). Results: Screening for nutrition, smoking, oral cavity status, and capacity for swallowing/chewing, but not for pain, was applied in > 80% of patients in the NLC group from T0 to T1. Education (16%) and care coordination (7%) were implemented to a lesser extent. Symptom burden increased over time with no significant differences between groups. Conclusions: The nurse-led consultation was not associated with symptom burden over time. A larger implementation study including a detailed process evaluation, larger sample size, and a focus on long-term effects is needed.

The Impact of Nursing Interventions on the Treatment Outcomes of Renal Cell Carcinoma with Postoperative Interleukin-2 and Recombinant Human Interferon

“…The standard care included routine follow-up, wound care, medication management, and necessary medical interventions as per hospital protocol. 12 The additional nursing interventions comprised psychological care, monitoring of vital signs, dietary care, management of adverse reactions, and post-discharge care.…”