Getting patients active: using national data to drive practice

Area of Science:

• Oncology Nursing
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Symptom Management

Background:

• A pilot study identified a gap in recommended interventions for patient-reported fatigue in breast cancer care.
• National Cancer Institute-designated centers participated in the ONS Foundation Breast Cancer Care Quality Measures Set pilot study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the lack of fatigue interventions using evidence-based practice.
• To implement practice changes and integrate exercise resources into patient care plans.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the evidence-based practice process to guide the initiative.
• Developed staff education curriculum on practice changes.
• Implemented an evidence-based fatigue assessment and intervention strategy.

Main Results:

• Identified barriers and challenges in implementing practice changes.
• Successfully integrated exercise resources into patients' plans of care.
• Established methods for ongoing integration of fatigue management resources.

Conclusions:

• Evidence-based practice is crucial for addressing symptom management gaps in oncology.
• Integrating exercise interventions can effectively manage patient-reported fatigue.
• Multifaceted approaches including staff education and resource integration are key to successful practice change.