[Self-administration of colony stimulating factors (CSF's): basic advice]. / Factores estimuladores de colonias: consejos para la autoadministración.

As nurses we all know the importance of good health education to achieve the highest level of autonomy in our patients. In the Medical Day Unit of Palamós Hospital we treat cancer patients who need CSF's (Colony Stimulating Factors) medication. We thought it would be appropriate, therefore, to draw up an information leaflet on self-administration of CSF's. These kind of patients receive a lot of information through the different media but, unfortunately, it can get distorted, unclear, and often, not at all lawful. Our goal is that the patient or, in his absence, the main career can improve the self-administration of the drug. After several tests we have opted for a visual leaflet instead of a written one because we believe that "a picture is worth a thousand words".

Factores estimuladores de colonias. Consejos para la autoadministración / Self-administration of colony stimulating factors (CSF'S): basic advice

Como profesionales de enfermería conocemos la importancia de impartir una buena educación sanitaria para conseguir la máxima autonomía en nuestros pacientes. Como enfermeras de una Unidad de Hospital de día médico, en el que tratamos pacientes oncológicos y oncohematológicos que necesitan tratamiento con factores de estimulación de colonias, hemos creído oportuno la elaboración de un díptico informativo sobre la autoadministración de los mismos. Es cierto que los pacientes, gracias a los diferentes medios de comunicación, reciben mucha información pero, desgraciadamente, puede llegar de manera distorsionada, poco comprensible y -en ocasiones- de forma no del todo lícita. Nuestro objetivo es reforzar la autoadministración de este medicamento o, en su defecto, la aplicación por el cuidador principal o familiar. Tras varias pruebas, hemos optado por un díptico más visual que escrito porque creemos que una imagen vale más que mil palabras(AU)

As nurses we all know the importance of good health education to achieve the highest level of autonomy in our patients. In the Medical Day Unit of Palamós Hospital we treat cancer patients who need CSF's (Colony Stimulating Factors) medication. We thought it would be appropriate, therefore, to draw up an information leaflet on self-administration of CSF's. These kind of patients receive a lot of information through the different media but, unfortunately, it can get distorted, unclear, and often, not at all lawful. Our goal is that the patient or, in his absence, the main career can improve the self-administration of the drug. After several tests we have opted for a visual leaflet instead of a written one because we believe that «a picture is worth a thousand words»(AU)