ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) was to explore whether a community nursing intervention for outpatients receiving systemic therapy reduced unplanned hospital presentations and improved physical and psychosocial health outcomes over the first three cycles of treatment compared to a control group receiving standard care. METHODS: The number of and reasons for unplanned presentations were obtained for 170 intervention and 176 control group adult patients with solid tumours starting outpatient chemotherapy. Poisson regression was used to compare the number of presentations between the intervention and control groups. Patients self-completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Cancer Behavior Inventory and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) at the start of the first four cycles. Linear regression techniques were used to compare quality of life outcomes. RESULTS: The reduction in unplanned presentations in the intervention group relative to the control group was 12% (95% CI, - 25%, 37%; P = 0.48). At the start of cycle 4, there was no difference in anxiety (difference = 0.47 (95% CI, - 0.28, 1.22; P = 0.22)), depression (difference = 0.57 (95% CI, - 0.18, 1.31; P = 0.13)) or EORTC QLQ-C30 summary score (difference = 0.16 (95% CI, - 2.67, 3.00; P = 0.91)). Scores for self-efficacy as measured by the Cancer Behavior Inventory were higher in the intervention group (difference = 4.3 (95% CI, 0.7, 7.9; P = 0.02)). CONCLUSION: This RCT did not demonstrate a benefit in reducing unplanned presentations to hospital. The trial identified improved cancer-based self-efficacy in patients receiving the intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered at Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12614001113640, registered 21/10/2014.
Subject(s)
Critical Pathways , Neoplasms , Adult , Humans , Australia , Quality of Life , Anxiety/etiology , Anxiety Disorders , Neoplasms/drug therapyABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of community nursing intervention on hypertension combined with diabetes in elderly patients.Methods Five hundred and twenty elderly hypertensive patients with diabetes aged over 60 years in 10 communities of Shenzhen were randomly divided into a control group and a study group,260 cases in each group.All the patients in the two groups were given regular follow-ups in community clinics after discharge.Then the control group received instructions on relevant knowledge by the nurses in the community clinics,while the study group received nursing intervention by phone calls or visits by professional nurses once a month.The two groups were compared in terms of blood pressure,blood sugar and blood lipids 12 months after intervention.Results There were no significant differences in blood pressure,blood sugar and blood lipids between the two groups before the intervention(all P>0.05).After intervention,however,the differences were significant(all P<0.05).Conclusion Community nursing intervention may effectively improve hypertension and diabetes in the elderly patients by improving the levels of blood pressure,blood glucose and blood lipid,thereby reducing the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.
ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss the effect of community nursing intervention on medication compliance and control rates of blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension.Methods Community nursing intervention was conducted to 73 community patients with essential hypertension. The patients' medication compliance was compared before and after intervention and their control of blood pressure was also observed. Results The difference was statistically significant in the comparison of patients' knowledge of antihypertension and the proper use of antihypertensive drugs before and after intervention. Blood pressure control rate was 80.82%.Conclusions Community nursing intervention can improve patients' medication compliance and effectively control the blood pressure of the patients.
