Purpose/objectives: To collect baseline measurements before the implementation of interventions associated with the AIM (Assessment Information Management) Higher Initiative--a quality improvement program intended to improve symptom assessment, management, and information distribution for five chemotherapy-related symptom groups: anemia, neutropenia, diarrhea and constipation, nausea and vomiting, and depression and anxiety.
Design: Subject telephone interviews and chart reviews.
Setting: 15 community oncology clinics in the United States.
Sample: 376 adult patients with cancer who visited a healthcare provider before the start of a chemotherapy cycle; patients were enrolled in the study after the initiation of chemotherapy, with at least one chemotherapy cycle remaining.
Methods: Subject interviews and chart reviews to determine the frequency, assessment, and management of and information about target symptoms.
Main research variables: The frequency of target chemotherapy-related symptoms and occurrence of symptom-specific assessment, information provided, and management.
Findings: The five target symptoms had occurred in a considerable proportion of patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy during their most recent chemotherapy cycles. At a substantial number of clinic visits, no documentation of cancer-related symptom assessment, information distribution, or management occurred.
Conclusions: Chemotherapy-related symptoms occur frequently but often are not assessed, managed, or handled with appropriate patient information.
Implications for nursing: Findings in the baseline evaluation illustrate the need to improve supportive care--a key responsibility of oncology nurses.