Oncology education programs in a community hospital : an interprofessional approach

Abstract

Includes bibliographical references (pages 29-31)During the past twenty-five years, the role of chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer patients has evolved from one of palliation for the patient with disseminated metastases to one of potentially curative treatment for the patient with early disease. The use of these drugs has now become standard practice. In order to insure that maximum benefit is derived from a given treatment program, it is essential that each member of the health care team be cognizant of both the toxic manifestations and beneficial effects of these complex agents.\ud The purpose of this study was to describe how an interprofessional approach was used in:\ud 1. Identifying the problems which resulted in a significantly increased number of medication errors and an excessive incidence of toxic responses to chemotherapy treatment programs in a community hospital.\ud 2. Developing continuing education programs to correct the problems thus identified.\ud 3. Evaluating the effectiveness of these programs.\ud Behavior-oriented outcome statements were formulated for each of the model programs. Data was collected from patient charts, the professional staff and the patients themselves in a pre and post situation analysis to determine whether the expected outcomes had in fact occurred. Feedback from these sources indicated that the desired behavior changes had occurred.\ud The materials developed as a result of this study were made available to the Hospital Pharmacy to allow them to continue to offer and expand the program