Subacute Care Intervention for Short-Stay Breast Cancer Surgery

摘要

The purpose of this study is to add to the scientific basis for providing subacute care in the home, by testing the effects of a post-operative nursing intervention designed to facilitate quality of life and physical/ psychological well-being after diagnosis and surgery for breast cancer. A randomized clinical trial with repeated measures is examining the effects of the intervention. The intervention participants (n=1OO) receive the targeted subacute care protocol in the home from a study nurse within the first 14 post- operative days, control A participants (n=5O) receive surgeon-ordered agency home nursing care, and the control B participants (n=5O) receive no post- surgical nursing care. We hypothesize that, compared to the control participants, recipients of the intervention will report higher quality of life, improved surgical recovery and self-care knowledge, higher physical functioning, lower anxiety levels, fewer physical symptoms, less frequent use of health services, and lower out-of-pocket health care expenses. Trends to date indicate that the intervention women are being discharged sooner, using fewer health services during the first four weeks post-discharge, and receiving less than half the number of nurse visits, when compared to controls, and yet are achieving comparable or better physical, emotional, and financial outcomes. Such findings can contribute to policy on these care and cost issues.