Patient evaluation of Klick, a technology-enabled, nurse-delivered HIV outpatient pathway.

OBJECTIVES: Klick is a clinic-specific, digitally supported outpatient pathway of care for people living with HIV (PLWH). It involves a smartphone application (app) for PLWH to self-manage their care, navigate access to the clinic and communicate with their healthcare provider. We present a patient evaluation of Klick. METHODS: Patients use Klick to book/reschedule appointments, view laboratory results, request medication, access remote nurse-delivered consultations and communicate with clinicians. In October 2022, Klick was evaluated by PLWH through a questionnaire and interviews. RESULTS: Between August 2020 and April 2024, 5859 patients had registered to use Klick; during April 2024 alone, 2509 (43%) used Klick. In October 2022, 1661 PLWH were invited to complete surveys, of whom 362 (22%) responded. These respondents were 95% (340/358) male and 84% (298/354) white, and 63% (227/359) were in the age range 41-60 years. Respondents felt Klick was easy to use (average score 4.3/5), and 92% thought having a clinic-specific app was important/very important. Respondents valued the following app features as important/very important - online booking (93%); viewable results (94%); prescription requests (90%) - and rated their experience of using them highly - 91% for e-booking and 91% for viewable results. A total of 93% said they would recommend Klick to friends and 82% rated Klick as above average/excellent. CONCLUSIONS: PLWH reported high levels of satisfaction using a clinic-specific mHealth app to manage their HIV care and demonstrated sustained active use. Klick was rated easy to use, as helping to meet healthcare needs and as providing a superior experience for some aspects of care. Other HIV clinics or services managing chronic conditions could benefit from the adoption of personalized digital solutions to enhance patient care.

Nurse-Led Care at Home Visit Versus Standard Care in Patients with Mild Acute Pancreatitis: A Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUNDS: Frequent hospitalization and the costs of hospitalization are the main burdens in China for patients with acute pancreatitis. Most admitted patients have mild disease conditions that do not require hospitalization. AIMS: Here, we compare some health and economic aspects of patients with mild acute pancreatitis who received nurse-led care at home visits against those who were hospitalized on follow-up. METHODS: Patients discharged from the hospital after treatment for mild acute pancreatitis received (NC cohort, n = 104) or did not receive (HN cohort, n = 141) regular home visits by nurses for treatment and care. Patients were rehospitalized by caregivers with or without help of nurse. RESULTS: Hospital readmission events occurred in both cohorts at a follow-up care time of 2 months. Compared with the time of discharge from the hospital, unwanted effects were higher in follow-up care in all patients (p < 0.001 for all). Patients in the NC cohort had less time to resolution of pain, less time to resumption of oral solid food intake, smaller number of patients with hospital readmissions, less average time of hospitalization, lower cost of care, and lower occurrence of unwanted effects than those of patients in the HN cohort during 2 months of follow-up care (p < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with mild acute pancreatitis who undergo treatment require nurse-led nontreatment intervention(s) for rehabilitation in follow-up. Nurse-led follow-up care at-home visits increase recovery, are beneficial and cost-effective, and decrease unwanted adverse effects in patients receiving treatment for mild acute pancreatitis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV. TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 5.

Factors that influence presentation to an emergency department during systemic anti-cancer therapy: An exploratory qualitative study.

PURPOSE: To explore factors that influence presentation to an emergency department during ambulatory systemic anti-cancer therapy. METHODS: This study was an exploratory qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. A purposive sample of adult patients with any cancer who had commenced systemic anti-cancer therapy in the ambulatory setting up to six months prior participated in semi-structured interviews between November 2016-December 2017. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and data analysed thematically using a template analysis approach. RESULTS: Twenty patients and four caregivers took part. Five themes were generated from the interview data: 1) the unknown and unpredictable; 2) a change of lifestyle; 3) social determinants and access; 4) trust in care providers; and 5) the unavailability of care. CONCLUSION: As the number of systemic anti-cancer agents and patients eligible for them continues to grow, identifying, implementing and evaluating initiatives to mitigate emergency department presentations present an important area for health services research. Addressing timely access to trusted care and enhancing patient capacity for self-management present important areas for nurse-led system innovation. Findings from this study offer important insights into where and how nurses can mitigate emergency department presentations for individuals receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy by enabling accessible, coordinated and person-centred cancer care.

Intensive Primary Care Nursing: Exploring the Impact of a Nurse-Led Model for Medically and Social Complex Patients.

Lack of access to primary care contributes to health inequities. Treatment settings that utilize the full experience and training of nurses, both registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), can expand in primary care and successfully address health inequities. This small study describes the implementation of a model of primary care called intensive primary care (IPC), which has eight elements that support the full utilization of a nurse's experience and training. This is a mixed method qualitative study, which reports the observations of the implementation and pre- and post-intervention measures. The IPC model was implemented at a free clinic, which targeted underserved population between 2020 and 2023. Participants were selected as a convenience sample. Participants were to have two or more chronic health problems The participants received primary care using the IPC model, which included setting self-management goals, and meeting with RN or APRN on a monthly basis (face to face, via phone or zoom) to monitor progress toward goals. Twenty-two people were approached, and 19 completed the intervention. Pre- and Post-intervention measures (Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care [PACIC]-20); Functional, Communicative, Critical Thinking Health Literacy; Perceived Stress; Patient Activation; Perceived Self Efficacy for Chronic Disease; EuroQo- 5 Dimension (EQ-5D); Trust in Provider; Emotional Support-Patient Reported Outcome Measure Information System (PROMIS); and Patient Health Questionnaire-9) were obtained and analyzed with paired T test (α < .05). Nurses involved meet weekly to share observations recorded in free form notes. These observations were summarized by two of the authors (MD and KF) at the end of the study. All patients had improved physical health outcomes, but more importantly, there were significant improvements in measures known to impact health and health outcomes, specifically, patient activation, self-efficacy for chronic illness, PACIC, and trust in provider. Time spent with patients, both duration and frequency of contact, was observed to have significant impacts.

Same-day discharge after atrial fibrillation ablation under a nurse-coordinated standardized protocol.

AIMS: Same-day discharge (SDD) after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is an effective means to spare healthcare resources. However, safety remains a concern, and besides structural adaptations, SDD requires more efficient logistics and coordination. Therefore, in this study, we implement a streamlined, nurse-coordinated SDD programme following a standardized protocol. METHODS AND RESULTS: As a dedicated SDD coordinator, a nurse specialized in ambulatory cardiac interventions was in charge of the full SDD protocol, including eligibility, patient flow, in-hospital logistics, patient education, and discharge as well as early post-discharge follow-up by smartphone-based virtual visits. Patients planned for AF ablation were considered eligible if they had a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥35%, with basic support at home and accessibility of the hospital within 60 min also forming a part of the eligibility criteria. A total of 420 consecutive patients were screened by the SDD coordinator, of whom 331 were eligible for SDD. The reasons for exclusion were living remotely (29, 6.9%), lack of support at home (19, 4.5%), or LVEF <35% (17, 4.0%). Of the eligible patients, 300 (91%) were successfully discharged the same day. There were no major post-SDD complications. Rates of unplanned medical attention (19, 6.3%) and 30-day readmission (5, 1.6%) were extremely low and driven by femoral access-site complications. These were significantly reduced upon the introduction of compulsory ultrasound-guided punctures after the initial 150 SDD patients (P = 0.0145). Standardized SDD coordination resulted in efficient workflows and reduced the total workload of the medical staff. CONCLUSION: Same-day discharge after AF ablation following a nurse-coordinated standardized protocol is safe and efficient. The concept of ambulatory cardiac intervention nurses functioning as dedicated coordinators may be key in the future transition of hospitals to SDD. Ultrasound-guided femoral puncture virtually eliminated relevant femoral access-site complications in our cohort and should therefore be a prerequisite for SDD.

Patient-Reported Outcome and Experience Measures in Advanced Nursing Practice: What Are Key Considerations for Implementation and Optimized Use?

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the opportunities and challenges of implementing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) within advanced practice nursing services in cancer care. METHODS: This discussion paper has been informed by an environmental scan of evidence from systematic reviews and primary studies evaluating the use and implementation of PROMs and PREMs. Literature from the contexts of cancer and chronic disease, including nursing and multidisciplinary supportive care literature, has been included. RESULTS: Advanced practice nurses are well-positioned to evaluate and respond to PROMs and PREMs data; several studies have highlighted improved patient outcomes concerning quality of life, symptom distress, and functional status within nurse-led services. Nevertheless, the implementation of PROMs and PREMs in cancer care and nurse-led services is variable. Previous studies have highlighted implementation challenges, which can hinder comparability and generalizability of PROMs and PREMs instruments. Advanced practice nurses should consider these challenges, including ways to use standardized PROM instruments. Electronic PROMs, while efficient, may exclude individuals at risk of inequity. Complex, lengthy, and frequent administration of PROMs may also overburden people living with or after cancer, with people affected by cancer expressing preference for flexible use in some studies. Therefore, the involvement of people affected by cancer in planning for PROMs/PREMs implementation may overcome this challenge. Finally, organizational considerations in implementation should address financial investments, including initial costs for technology and training and consideration of the operationalization of PROMs within existing infrastructure for the seamless utilization of PROMs data. CONCLUSION: Despite the potential of advanced practice nursing services to enhance patient-reported outcomes and experiences, variability in the implementation of PROMs and PREMs poses challenges. Use of validated measures, electronic or paper-based instruments, and the preferences of people affected by cancer for the use of PROMs and PREMs must be carefully considered in consultation with end users for successful implementation. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: In planning for the implementation of PROMs and PREMs within nurse-led services, implementation risks may be mitigated through establishing clear guidelines for their use, investment in the development of the required infrastructure, user education, and rigorous implementation processes, including patient involvement in PROMs/PREMs selection.

The Effects of Nurse-Led Supportive Care Program on Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study was to evaluate the effects of nurse-led supportive care program on quality of life in women with breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: The study was carried out a parallel group randomized controlled pilot study with repeated-measures design in general surgery unit of a training and research hospital. Forty-two women with newly diagnosed breast cancer were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received nurse-led supportive care program for 8 weeks, 4 weeks in face-to-face sessions and 4 weeks through phone sessions. The control group received only routine treatment. The women in both groups completed the EORTC-QLQ-C30 (version 3.0) Quality of Life questionnaires at baseline and ninth week. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the mean global health status and functional status scores of the women with breast cancer in the intervention group compared to the women in the control group in the ninth week compared to the baseline. The women in the intervention group had a lower mean symptom status score in the ninth week than the women in the control group and there was a statistically significant difference in the change in the mean scores of the groups over time. CONCLUSIONS: Our nurse-led supportive care program is an effective, safe and acceptable method to support women with BC receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: The nurse-led supportive care program can be used as a reliable and effective nursing intervention to increase the quality of life of women breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05399160.

Emerging trends in nurse-led programs of care for management of patients with established rheumatoid arthritis: Systematic literature review / Tendencias emergentes en los programas de atención dirigidos por enfermeras para el manejo de pacientes con artritis reumatoide establecida: Revisión sistemática de la literatura

Introduction: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), nurses are considered as essential, not only to ensure pharmacological safety, but also in the promotion in self-care and decision-making, favouring the empowerment of patients. This systematic review aimed to summarize the available literature on the health education by the nurse in patients with RA. Material and methods: Following Cochrane Collaboration procedures, the PRISMA statement and PRISMA checklist, relevant quantitative studies published were retrieved from the CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed and Medic databases and then systematically reviewed. The search ended in August 2021. Nineteen studies were retained for inclusion and evaluated with the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network for Systematic Reviews. Results: We found statistically significant improvement in self-care (five studies), disease activity (three studies), quality of life (two studies), satisfaction (five studies) and adherence (one study) with the nursing-led management of patients with established rheumatoid arthritis. Discussion: Although there is solid evidence of improvement in satisfaction and self-care, there seems to be a trend also to improve other outcomes, such as DAS28, from the EULAR recommendations, the expansion of the therapeutic arsenal for rheumatoid arthritis and shared decision-making. In addition, recently and due to the implementation of new technologies, the role of the nurse has been evaluated through virtual consultations. The results of recent studies have shown that this an effective and well-accepted novel approach for the management of patients with stable rheumatoid arthritis. Conclusion: Our study suggests that nurse-led health education, in addition of improvement in satisfaction and self-care, improve activity disease scores in RA patients.(AU)

Introducción: En los pacientes con artritis reumatoide, las enfermeras se consideran esenciales, no solo para garantizar la seguridad farmacológica, sino también en la prestación de promoción en el autocuidado y la toma de decisiones, favoreciendo el empoderamiento de los pacientes. Esta revisión sistemática tuvo como objetivo resumir la literatura disponible sobre la educación sanitaria por parte de la enfermera en pacientes con artritis reumatoide. Material y métodos: Siguiendo los procedimientos de la Colaboración Cochrane, la declaración PRISMA y la lista de comprobación PRISMA, se recuperaron los estudios cuantitativos relevantes publicados en las bases de datos CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed y Medic y, a continuación, se revisaron sistemáticamente. La búsqueda finalizó en agosto de 2021. Diecinueve estudios fueron retenidos para su inclusión y evaluados con la Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network for Systematic Reviews. ResultadosSe encontró una mejoría estadísticamente significativa en el autocuidado (cinco estudios), la actividad de la enfermedad (tres estudios), la calidad de vida (dos estudios), la satisfacción (cinco estudios) y la adherencia (un estudio) con el manejo dirigido por enfermería de pacientes con artritis reumatoide establecida. Discusión: Aunque siempre ha habido evidencias de mejora en la satisfacción y el autocuidado, parece haber una tendencia a mejorar también otros resultados, como el de Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints (DAS28), a partir de las recomendaciones de la European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), la ampliación del arsenal terapéutico para la artritis reumatoide y la toma de decisiones compartida. Además, recientemente y debido a la implantación de las nuevas tecnologías, se ha evaluado el papel de la enfermera a través de las consultas virtuales. Los resultados de estudios recientes han demostrado que se trata de un nuevo enfoque...(AU)

Emerging trends in nurse-led programs of care for management of patients with established rheumatoid arthritis: Systematic literature review.

INTRODUCTION: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), nurses are considered as essential, not only to ensure pharmacological safety, but also in the promotion in self-care and decision-making, favouring the empowerment of patients. This systematic review aimed to summarize the available literature on the health education by the nurse in patients with RA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Following Cochrane Collaboration procedures, the PRISMA statement and PRISMA checklist, relevant quantitative studies published were retrieved from the CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed and Medic databases and then systematically reviewed. The search ended in August 2021. Nineteen studies were retained for inclusion and evaluated with the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network for Systematic Reviews. RESULTS: We found statistically significant improvement in self-care (five studies), disease activity (three studies), quality of life (two studies), satisfaction (five studies) and adherence (one study) with the nursing-led management of patients with established rheumatoid arthritis. DISCUSSION: Although there is solid evidence of improvement in satisfaction and self-care, there seems to be a trend also to improve other outcomes, such as DAS28, from the EULAR recommendations, the expansion of the therapeutic arsenal for rheumatoid arthritis and shared decision-making. In addition, recently and due to the implementation of new technologies, the role of the nurse has been evaluated through virtual consultations. The results of recent studies have shown that this an effective and well-accepted novel approach for the management of patients with stable rheumatoid arthritis. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that nurse-led health education, in addition of improvement in satisfaction and self-care, improve activity disease scores in RA patients.

Nurse-led care for people with early rheumatoid arthritis: Interview study with thematic analysis.

AIMS: To develop an understanding of what comprises nurse-led care in early rheumatoid arthritis from the perspective of rheumatology nurse specialists in England. DESIGN: Qualitative study. METHODS: Semi-structured telephone interviews with rheumatology nurse specialists in England were conducted in Summer 2020. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Reporting follows the appropriate elements of consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research. RESULTS: Sixteen nurses were recruited and interviews lasted 30-60 min. Four themes with 14 subthemes were identified. A SPECIALIST SERVICE DELIVERED BY EXPERIENCED RHEUMATOLOGY NURSES: Specialist care is provided by experienced nurse specialists with a high degree of autonomy in the rheumatology multidisciplinary team context. ADDRESSING PATIENTS' COMPLEX CARE NEEDS: Care is evidence-based and aims to start treatment, keep in treatment, educate and support. Access to psychology expertise is needed. CARE WITH COMPASSION USING PERSON-CENTRED, HOLISTIC AND EMPATHETIC APPROACHES: Nurses create patient relationships and a positive therapeutic environment. Nurse-led telephone advice lines are essential for treatment adjustment, patient support and empowerment. CONTINUED EVALUATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SERVICE: Consultations are reviewed, and patients are asked for feedback. The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruption, but changes streamlined procedures and improved documentation and communication. CONCLUSION: Nurse-led care in early rheumatoid arthritis is a specialist service delivered with compassion, addressing complex care needs and using person-centred approaches. This study identifies key aspects of care in early disease from the nurse perspective.

Examining nursing processes in primary care settings using the Chronic Care Model: an umbrella review.

BACKGROUND: While there is clear evidence that nurses can play a significant role in responding to the needs of populations with chronic conditions, there is a lack of consistency between and within primary care settings in the implementation of nursing processes for chronic disease management. Previous reviews have focused either on a specific model of care, populations with a single health condition, or a specific type of nurses. Since primary care nurses are involved in a wide range of services, a comprehensive perspective of effective nursing processes across primary care settings and chronic health conditions could allow for a better understanding of how to support them in a broader way across the primary care continuum. This systematic overview aims to provide a picture of the nursing processes and their characteristics in chronic disease management as reported in empirical studies, using the Chronic Care Model (CCM) conceptual approach. METHODS: We conducted an umbrella review of systematic reviews published between 2005 and 2021 based on the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute. The methodological quality was assessed independently by two reviewers using the AMSTAR 2 tool. RESULTS: Twenty-six systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included, covering 394 primary studies. The methodological quality of most reviews was moderate. Self-care support processes show the most consistent positive outcomes across different conditions and primary care settings. Case management and nurse-led care show inconsistent outcomes. Most reviews report on the clinical components of the Chronic Care Model, with little mention of the decision support and clinical information systems components. CONCLUSIONS: Placing greater emphasis on decision support and clinical information systems could improve the implementation of nursing processes. While the need for an interdisciplinary approach to primary care is widely promoted, it is important that this approach not be viewed solely from a clinical perspective. The organization of care and resources need to be designed to support contributions from all providers to optimize the full range of services available to patients with chronic conditions. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42021220004.

Spin in the abstracts of randomized controlled trials of nurse-led care: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Nurse-led models of care had been reported as effective intervention approaches for improving health management and reducing hospitalizations of target patients in a number of studies. However, the reporting quality of studies in the field varied and there was a lack of literature evaluation. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess the reporting quality and spin of abstracts of published randomized controlled trials which had statistically not significant primary outcomes. Moreover, potential factors associated with the presence of spin were also assessed. METHODS: Studies on nurse-led care were retrieved from PubMed from January 1st, 2017, to December 31st, 2021. Only randomized controlled trials with statistically not significant primary outcomes were included. Study screening and data extraction were carried out by two reviewers independently. The reporting quality of each abstract was evaluated by the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement, and spin strategies were analyzed using a pre-designed assessment form. Potential predictors for the presence of spin were analyzed by multivariate logistic regressions. RESULTS: The overall reporting quality of the included 75 randomized controlled trial abstracts was not satisfying, with a median score of 16-item Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement at 6 (IQR 5, 8). Forty abstracts used at least one spin strategy in abstracts. Among them, 18 (45.0 %) used spin strategies in the result section and 39 (97.5 %) had spin in the conclusion section. The most common spin strategy identified in abstracts was focusing on statistically significant secondary outcomes (12/40, 30.0 %) in the result section and claiming benefit with no consideration of statistically not significant results for the primary outcomes (32/40, 80.0 %) in the conclusion section. Based on the definition, 29 (72.5 %) abstracts were assessed to have high level of spin in the conclusions of abstracts. By multivariate logistic regression analyses, it was found that only geographic origin (reference: studies from Asian countries, OR = 0.118, 95 % CI 0.027 to 0.511, P = 0.004) and the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement score (reference: lower score, OR = 0.625, 95 % CI 0.470 to 0.829, P = 0.001) were significantly associated with the presence of spin in abstracts. CONCLUSION: Among the randomized controlled trials with statistically not significant primary outcomes in the field of nurse-led care, the reporting quality of abstracts needs to be improved. Trials from Asian countries and with lower Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement scores are more likely to present spin in abstracts. Findings reported in the result and conclusion sections of these abstracts need to be interpreted with caution.

Are Nurse-Led Patient Consultations and Nurse-Led Dose Adjustments of Permanent Medication Acceptable for Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension in General Practice? - Results of a Focus Group Study.

Purpose: Practice nurse (PN)-led patient consultations and PN-led dosage adjustments of permanent medication are uncommon and not well studied in general practice (GP) in Germany. We investigated the perspectives of patients with common chronic diseases in Germany, diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 and/or arterial hypertension (AT), on PN-led patient consultations and dosage adjustments of permanent medications in GP. Patients and Methods: In this exploratory qualitative study, online focus groups were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Patients were recruited from collaborating GPs according to a predefined sampling plan. Patients were eligible for this study if they had DM or AT treated by their GP, were on at least one permanent medication and were aged 18 years or older. Focus group transcripts were analyzed using thematic analyses. Results: Analyses of two focus groups, involving a total of 17 patients, revealed four main themes: (1) openness to the PN-led care and perceived benefits, eg because of patients' confidence in PNs' skills, or patients' impression that PN-led care would better meet their needs and increase their compliance. Some patients had (2) reservations and perceived risks, especially for PN-led medication changes eg feeling that medication adjustments were a GP's issue. Patients identified (3) reasons for encounters where they were likely to accept PN-led consultation and medication advice, eg management of DM, AT and thyroid disease. Patients also saw several important general requirements for the implementation of PN-led care in German general practice (4). Conclusion: There is a potential for openness towards PN-led consultation and PN-led medication adjustment for permanent medication in patients with DM or AT. This study is the first qualitative study to investigate PN-led consultations and medication advice in German general practice. If the implementation of PN-led care is planned, our findings add the patients' perspectives of acceptable reasons for encounter for PN-led care and their general requirements.

A call for nurse practitioner-led cancer survivorship clinics: The need for development and adoption within Ontario, Canada.

The growing prevalence of cancer survivors requiring comprehensive follow-up care after the completion of treatment is placing a significant strain on the Canadian healthcare system (Moura et al., 2022). Given the current landscape and the higher workload demands that are further exacerbated by shortages in healthcare staffing, the oncology specialist-led care, as the standard model for survivorship care is unsustainable and suboptimal in addressing a broad range of physical, psychosocial, supportive, informational, and rehabilitative needs of cancer survivors (Brennan et al., 2010; Canadian Partnership Against Cancer & Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies, 2010). Nurse-led models of survivorship care provided by oncology nurse practitioners (NPs) have been shown to be safe, effective, feasible, and appropriate for follow-up care (Chan et al., 2018). In the province of Ontario, survivorship care is provided mostly by physicians. Specialized NP-led survivorship clinics or programs are currently lacking based on a recent environmental scan. This paper outlines current barriers and opportunities in NP-led survivorship care. This is a call to action and for advocacy regarding the examination of oncology services and outlines the need for the development and implementation of NP-led survivorship clinics in Ontario, Canada.

Effects of a Nurse-led Survivorship Care Program on the Health and Resilience of Primary Caregivers of Patients With Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a nurse-led survivorship care program (SCP) on emotional distress, social support, physical health, mental health, and resilience in primary caregivers of patients with advanced head and neck cancer. DATA SOURCES: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. One hundred patient-primary caregiver dyads were randomized into the nurse-led SCP group (experimental) or the usual care group (control). Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire, including measures of emotional distress, social support, physical health, mental health, and resilience. After 6 months, the experimental group reported a significant improvement in emotional distress, social support, physical health, mental health, and resilience. Compared with the control group, measures of emotional distress, physical health, overall resilience, and the resilience aspects of equanimity and perseverance improved in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: An SCP may feasibly help alleviate emotional distress, improve social support, increase physical and mental health, and strengthen resilience in the primary caregivers of patients with head and neck cancer. Health care providers should encourage primary caregivers to join an SCP. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: The nurse-led SCP can be applied before patients complete treatment, which may increase the positive effect on physical health and adaptation.

Nurse-led care after ablation of atrial fibrillation: a randomized controlled trial.

AIMS: The added value of advanced practitioner nurse (APN) care after ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown. The present study investigates the impact of APN-led care on AF recurrence, patient knowledge, lifestyle, and patient satisfaction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-five patients undergoing AF ablation were prospectively randomized to usual care (N = 33) or intervention (N = 32) group. In addition to usual care, the intervention consisted of an educational session, three consultations spread over 6 months and telephone accessibility coordinated by the APN. Primary outcome was the AF recurrence rate at 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes were lifestyle factors (alcohol intake, exercise, BMI, smoking), patient satisfaction and AF knowledge measured at 1 and 6 months between groups and within each group. Study demographics at 1 month were similar, except AF knowledge was higher in the intervention group (8.6 vs. 7, P = 0.001). At 6 months, AF recurrence was significantly lower in the intervention group (13.5 vs. 39.4%, P = 0.014). Between groups, patient satisfaction and AF knowledge were significantly higher in the intervention group, respectively, 9.4 vs. 8.7 (P < 0.001) and 8.6 vs. 7.0 out of 10 (P < 0.001). Within the intervention group, alcohol intake decreased from 3.9 to 2.6 units per week (P = 0.031) and physical activity increased from 224.4 ± 210.7 to 283.8 ± 169.3 (P = 0.048). No changes occurred within the usual care group. Assignment to the intervention group was the only protective factor for AF recurrence [Exp(B) 0.299, P = 0.04] in multivariable-adjusted analysis. CONCLUSION: Adding APN-led care after ablation of AF improves short-term clinical outcome, patient satisfaction and physical activity and decreases alcohol intake.

The present study investigates the added value of advanced practitioner nurse (APN)-led care consisting of an educational session, three consultations spread over 6 months and telephone accessibility coordinated by the APN in patients after ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Main findings are The addition of nurse-led care after ablation of AF improves short-term clinical outcome, patient satisfaction and physical activity and decreases alcohol intake.Our study shows that integrating nurse-led care in the post-AF ablation setting is a relatively simple to implement, low-cost intervention with a major impact on patient outcomes and quality of care. These findings encourage including nurse-led care into routine AF ablation follow-up.

Improving outcomes of AF ablation by integrated personalized lifestyle interventions: rationale and design of the prevention to improve outcomes of PVI (POP) trial.

Progression of atrial fibrillation (AF) and outcomes of ablation therapy are strongly affected by modifiable risk factors. Although previous studies show beneficial effects of modifying single risk factors, there is lack of evidence from randomized controlled trials on the effects of integrated AF lifestyle programmes. The POP trial is designed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of a dedicated nurse-led AF lifestyle outpatient clinic in patients with symptomatic AF. This study is a prospective, 1:1 randomized, single centre, investigator-initiated clinical trial in 150 patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF referred for a first pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Prior to the ablation, patients in the intervention group receive a personalized risk factor treatment programme in a specialized, protocolized, nurse-led outpatient clinic. Patient education and durable lifestyle management is promoted with an e-health platform. Patients in the control group receive standard care by cardiologists before ablation. The primary endpoint is the number of hospitalizations for re-ablation and cardioversion, with a follow-up of 12 months after ablation. Secondary endpoints include mortality, number of acute ischemic events, stroke or hospitalizations for heart failure, quality of life, number of ablations cancelled because of symptom reduction, and ablation success rate at 12 months. Determinants of patient and staff experience are explored and a cost-effectiveness analysis is included. The POP trial will help ascertain the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of an integrated technology-supported lifestyle therapy in patients with symptomatic AF. The trial is funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development [10070012010001]. Home sleep apnoea testing devices were provided by Itamar Medical, Ltd.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT05148338. AF atrial fibrillation, OSA obstructive sleep apnoea, PFA pulsed field ablation, PVI pulmonary vein isolation.

The use of nurse-led care intervention to improve self-care abilities subsequently decreasing readmission in multimorbid hospitalized patients: A quasi-experimental study in a real-world setting.

AIM: Nurse-led care aims to optimize the discharge preparation with a focus on increasing patients' independency and self-care abilities. This study compared patients' improvements of self-care abilities and frequency of readmission rate between nurse-led care and regular nursing care within the acute hospital setting. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental design within a real-world setting was used for this work. METHODS: We included a pool of 2501 patients from a control group (medically stable in usual care) and 420 patients from an intervention group (nurse-led care). After propensity score matching, the study cohort consisted of 612 patients. RESULTS: From admission to discharge, nurse-led care patients showed superior improvements of total self-care abilities compared to usual care patients. In particular, we found improvements in the following categories: mobility, grooming and excretion. Patients with nurse-led care were furthermore less frequently readmitted to hospital compared with the control group patients. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Assessing the Acceptability of Home Blood Monitoring for Patients With Cancer Who Are Receiving Systemic Anticancer Therapy From a Patient, Caregiver, and Clinician Perspective: Focus Group and Interview Study.

BACKGROUND: Regular blood testing is an integral part of systemic anticancer therapy delivery. Blood tests are required before every administration of treatment to ensure that a patient is sufficiently well to receive it. Blood testing is burdensome for patients as they require either an extra visit within 48 hours of planned administration of treatment or a significantly long visit if performed on the day of treatment. The additional time for appointments can have a significant impact on the quality of life of someone who is living with cancer. In the United Kingdom, the COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented disruption to the delivery of cancer care. Face-to-face hospital visits were reduced, resulting in the need to develop more innovative ways of working to minimize treatment interruptions. This led to significant uptake of digital technologies, with new models of care rapidly deployed across the UK health service to meet these challenges. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the acceptability of a point-of-care home blood monitoring device for people with cancer who are receiving systemic anticancer therapy, which is being developed in response to the increased need for remote care for patients with cancer. METHODS: Qualitative focus groups and semistructured interviews were conducted with patients (23/47, 49%), caregivers (6/47, 13%), and health care professionals (18/47, 38%) over a 19-month time frame from May 2019 to December 2020. Data were analyzed using framework analysis guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model. RESULTS: Analysis identified 4 overarching themes: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that patients with cancer, their caregivers, and health care professionals had positive perceptions about home blood monitoring. Although they are often considered synonymously, self-testing and self-management are not mutually exclusive, and this study illustrated some disparity in opinions regarding patient self-management. Home blood monitoring has the potential to provide patients with cancer with a convenient option for blood monitoring. It would minimize hospital attendances, decrease late treatment deferrals, and provide prompt recognition of cancer treatment toxicities, thus enhancing the existing nurse-led protocols and clinical pathways. Home blood monitoring would create a long-term sustainable transformation for the delivery of cancer care, using digital health to act as a facilitator to address a pertinent issue regarding improving the efficiency of hospital resources and increasing the delivery of personalized patient care. Further studies are needed to determine how and where home blood monitoring would fit within clinical pathways, in a way that is robust and equitable.

Effectiveness and implementation of models of cancer survivorship care: an overview of systematic reviews.

PURPOSE: To critically assess the effectiveness and implementation of different models of post-treatment cancer survivorship care compared to specialist-led models of survivorship care assessed in published systematic reviews. METHODS: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched from January 2005 to May 2021. Systematic reviews that compared at least two models of cancer survivorship care were included. Article selection, data extraction, and critical appraisal were conducted independently by two authors. The models were evaluated according to cancer survivorship care domains, patient and caregiver experience, communication and decision-making, care coordination, quality of life, healthcare utilization, costs, and mortality. Barriers and facilitators to implementation were also synthesized. RESULTS: Twelve systematic reviews were included, capturing 53 primary studies. Effectiveness for managing survivors' physical and psychosocial outcomes was found to be no different across models. Nurse-led and primary care provider-led models may produce cost savings to cancer survivors and healthcare systems. Barriers to the implementation of different models of care included limited resources, communication, and care coordination, while facilitators included survivor engagement, planning, and flexible services. CONCLUSIONS: Despite evidence regarding the equivalent effectiveness of nurse-led, primary care-led, or shared care models, these models are not widely adopted, and evidence-based recommendations to guide implementation are required. Further research is needed to address effectiveness in understudied domains of care and outcomes and across different population groups. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Rather than aiming for an optimal "one-size fits all" model of survivorship care, applying the most appropriate model in distinct contexts can improve outcomes and healthcare efficiency.