The quality of oncology nursing care: A cross sectional survey in three countries in Europe

Cross-Cultural Validation of the Portuguese Version of the Quality of Oncology Nursing Care Scale

BACKGROUND

Quality assessment in oncology nursing care has been a growing topic in the literature, gaining relevance as oncological nursing care becomes more complex as the science progresses. However, there are no instruments that assess the perception of the quality of oncology nursing care from the point of view of patients for the Portuguese population. Thus, the cross-cultural translation and validation of the Quality of Oncology Nursing Care Scale (QONCS) was performed for the Portuguese context. This instrument allows nurses to assess patients' self-perception of the quality of nursing care provided in an oncological setting. It also allows researchers to compare the results obtained internationally with the application of this scale.

METHODS

This is a methodological study, with two distinct phases: the first corresponded to the translation and cultural adaptation of the scale to the Portuguese context, and the second consisted of the psychometric validation of the QONCS, which included factor analysis and the evaluation of the psychometric properties of the instrument. We obtained responses from 402 patients from a Portuguese oncology hospital.

RESULTS

The Portuguese version of the Quality of Oncology Nursing Care Scale (QONCS_PT) consists of 34 items inserted into a tetra-factorial model, which explains a total variance of the instrument of 69.8%. A Cronbach's alpha of 0.93 was obtained for the complete instrument.

CONCLUSIONS

QONCS_PT has a competent and reliable structure. The scale's validity was assured and can be used in the Portuguese population, as it is useful for direct care provision but also for researchers and managers.

Quality of care in the oncological outpatient setting: Individual interviews with people receiving cancer treatment

PURPOSE

To describe how patients receiving cancer treatment perceive quality of care in the oncological outpatient settings.

METHOD

A strategic sample of 20 adult patients with cancer treated in four oncological outpatient settings in four hospitals in Sweden participated in the study. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions. The interviews were audio-recorded, and the transcripts were analysed using a phenomenographic approach.

RESULTS

Three descriptive categories emerged from the data: The patient's care is designed to meet individual needs, The patient's dignity is respected, and The patient feels safe and secure with the care. Overall, quality of care in the oncological outpatient setting is perceived as something positive and described in normative terms by the participants.

CONCLUSION

The results emphasises that in order to achieve quality of care it is important to the patients that they are able to meet with the same well-educated, professional, caring and sensible health care professionals every time.

Older patients' perceptions of the quality of acute cancer care: An integrative review-A mixed-method approach

AIM

This integrative review aimed to describe the perceptions of the quality of care of older patients (aged 65 and above) living with cancer in acute-care settings.

METHODS

We identified relevant research suitable for inclusion criteria through systematic searches of the PubMed®, EBSCOhost Academic Search Premier®, Scopus® and Web of Science® databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework and the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) guidelines were used to conduct the research and report the results. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the modified Critical Skills Appraisal Programme (CASP) checklist.

RESULTS

A total of 24 studies met the inclusion criteria. The data analysis revealed that care quality could be described through three distinct themes: individuality, a sense of security and respectful encounters.

CONCLUSION

The perceptions of older people living with cancer regarding the quality of acute care have not been extensively covered in the literature. Health- and age-related challenges, patients' overall life situation, clear, realistic information about care and the future and respect during encounters should be given attention.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Patient-centred and tailored care, considering the heterogeneity of the population and support for independence, is needed.

Quality of Oncology Nursing Care as Perceived by Patients With Cancer: Results From Three Arab Countries

BACKGROUND

Patient satisfaction was defined as expectation and perception of the patients about real nursing care they receive.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of oncology nursing care as perceived by patients with cancer in 3 Arabic countries (Jordan, Oman, and Egypt).

METHODS

A cross-sectional design with convenience sampling approach was used. A total of 517 patients with cancer (Jordan, 200, 38.7%; Sultanate of Oman, 137, 26.5%; and Egypt, 180, 34.8%) participated and completed the study's questionnaires including sociodemographic data and the Quality of Oncology Nursing Care Scale (QONCS).

RESULTS

Moderate quality of oncology nursing care was reported by the participants. The overall mean for the quality of oncology care as measured by the QONCS-Ar (QONCS Arabic version) was highest in Oman (153.40; SD, 4.10), followed by Jordan (150.93; SD, 2.10) and then Egypt (148.0; SD, 3.80). The results were significantly different in the total score of the QONCS-Ar (F = 45.20, P < .001) among the 3 countries. The results also differed in all domains of oncology nursing care according to days of treatment and marital status.

CONCLUSION

Findings are considered a baseline for future research and highlight the importance of evaluating quality of oncology nursing care as perceived by the patients with cancer.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The results from the current study can be used to develop an interventional program focusing on the needs of patients and their perceptions of care.

Nurses' perceptions of care quality for older patients suffering cancer in acute care settings: A descriptive study

AIMS

To describe the quality of care for older cancer patients in acute care settings as perceived by the responsible nursing staff.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study design was used. Data were collected using a questionnaire completed by 90 nursing staff at a university hospital and a city hospital. Quality of care was measured using the Revised Humane Caring Scale. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, nonparametric tests and linear regression analysis were used to analyse the data.

FINDINGS

Generally, the nursing staff perceived the quality of care as good; however, university hospital nursing staff perceived the quality of care to be better than city hospital nursing staff. Compared with other age groups, nursing staff in the 30- to 40-year age group more frequently indicated that patients' information and participation need improvement. Moreover, supplemental education in cancer care was found to have no significant impact on the quality of care. Altogether, nursing staff disagreed the most about their perceptions of staffing, sufficient time and an unhurried atmosphere.

CONCLUSION

Nursing staff should focus more on patients' personal needs, particularly with regard to patients' provision of information and participation in care. Younger nurses need more support and mentoring about complex care from their experienced colleagues when performing their work. Leaders should guarantee availability of the adequate number of competent staff in hospital wards.

The effect of applying Spiritual Care Model on well-being and quality of care in cancer patients

PURPOSE

The study was an attempt to explore the effect of applying spiritual model of nursing care on spiritual well-being and quality of spiritual care in cancer patients.

METHOD

A quasi-experimental study, the present inquiry was carried out with control and intervention groups with participation of 72 patients and 63 nurses in an advanced center in Iran. The Spiritual Care Model (SCM) was designed by the researchers in this study and was performed on the intervention group by nurses after they received proper training. The data were collected using Demographic Information Questionnaire, Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS), and Spiritual Care Delivery Rating Scale (SCDRS) in pre-intervention and post-intervention stages and were analyzed with SPSS v.16.

RESULTS

Before the intervention, the means for spiritual well-being and the quality of spiritual care were not significantly different for the intervention and control groups (p < 0.05). After the intervention, i.e., upon discharge from the hospital, the mean of spiritual well-being in the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.001). Based on the opinions of both nurses and patients, the mean of the spiritual care quality was significantly higher in the intervention group in comparison to that in the control group once the intervention was over (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Given the positive effect of the SCM on enhancing the spiritual care quality and improving the patients' spiritual well-being, it is recommended that the SCM be used as a proper guideline and as a model for boosting nurses' professional performance in spiritual care.

Spiritual Well-Being in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy in an Outpatient Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: To assess the spiritual well-being (SWB) of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in an outpatient setting. Method: Quantitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive study. A convenience sample of 150 participants was obtained. Data collection instrument was a self-reported questionnaire that included the SWB Questionnaire (SWBQ), whose scores range from 20 to 100. SPSS software, version 21, was used in data analysis. The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. Results: Patients’ ages ranged between 35 and 83 years; most were female (64.7%), married (68.0%), Catholic (86.7%), and with breast cancer (35.3%) and colorectal cancer (25.3%). The average SWBQ total score was 65.91 ( SD = 12.177). The highest score of the SWBQ was obtained in females, widows and singles, Evangelic and Catholic, and with lower educational level and professional occupation. The Cronbach α was 0.89, and the subscales αs ranged between 0.78 and 0.94. Conclusion: The SWBQ scores were reasonable. These results can guide nurses’ clinical reasoning, as the assessment of SWB may precede the diagnosis of risk for spiritual distress, readiness for enhanced SWB, or spiritual distress. Thus, the use of this instrument may facilitate spirituality being effectively implemented in clinical practice, favoring holistic health care.

Impact of a Spiritual Care Program on Spiritual Wellbeing of Oncology Nurses: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background:

Spiritual wellbeing (SWB) of nurses working in oncology wards is directly related to quality of care they provide. An increase in their SWB might lead to decrease in their spiritual distress and increase in their coping strategies. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a spiritual care program on SWB of nurses.

Materials and Methods:

This study is a clinical trial with before and after intervention groups, which was carried out on 65 nurses in Omid Hospital in Isfahan in 2017. Nurses were randomly assigned into control (n = 34) and intervention groups (n = 31). The data were collected through demographic and SWB scales. Spiritual care program consisting of eight sessions of four relationship-based domains, including relationships with God, self, others, and the environment, were carried out in the intervention group. Two care training sessions in oncology departments were conducted for the control group.

Results:

The results indicated that the differences in SWB mean scores between the intervention and control group after treatment were statistically significant (t = 2.58, p = 0.012). Also, SWB mean scores in the intervention group before and after treatment showed a statistically significant difference (t = 2.86, p = 0.008).

Conclusions:

The results showed that the spiritual care program might have a positive impact on the SWB of nurses working in oncology wards. Therefore, it is indispensable to promote and prioritize the SWB of nurses so that patients and their families will receive better health services.