Is seeing a specialist nurse associated with positive experiences of care? The role and value of specialist nurses in prostate cancer care.

摘要

Background: Specialist nurses may play an important role in helping to improve the experiences\udof patients with prostate cancer, however there is concern that the specialist nurse role is under\udthreat in the UK due to financial pressures in the NHS. This study explored the role and value of\udspecialist nurses in prostate cancer care via a survey and patient interviews.\udMethods: This paper reports findings from two studies. A survey of patients from three hospitals\udacross the UK (289/481, 60%), investigated whether patients who saw a specialist nurse had\uddifferent experiences of information provision and involvement in decision-making, to those who\uddid not. Qualitative interviews were also carried out with 35 men recently tested or treated for\udprostate cancer, recruited from two hospitals in the UK. Interviews explored patients' views on\udthe role and value of the specialist nurse.\udResults: Survey findings indicated that patients who saw a specialist nurse had more positive\udexperiences of receiving written information about tests and treatment, and about sources of\udadvice and support, and were more likely to say they made the treatment decision themselves. In\udinterviews, patients described specialist nurse input in their care in terms of providing information\udand support immediately post-diagnosis, as well as being involved in ongoing care. Two key aspects\udof the specialist nurse role were seen as unique: their availability to the patient, and their ability to\udliaise between the patient and the medical system.\udConclusion: This study indicates the unique role that specialist nurses play in the experience of\udpatients with prostate cancer, and highlights the importance of maintaining specialist nurse roles in\udprostate cancer care.