01 July 2006
Effects of Symptom Control Intervention on Utilization of Health Care Services Among Cancer Patients
Margot E. Kurtz, J.c. Kurtz, Charles W. Given, Barbara GivenMed Sci Monit 2006; 12(7): CR319-324 :: ID: 452208
Abstract
Background: In this study we investigated the effects of a clinical nursingsymptom control intervention on utilization of physician, hospital and emergency room services. Material/Methods:Two hundred twenty-two patients currently undergoing chemotherapy were recruited for the study, and wererandomized into either the 10-contact, 20-week experimental intervention group (110), where the interventionfocused on assisting the patient in managing their symptoms, or to a conventional care control group(112). Results: A random effects regression model revealed that patients in the intervention group reportedfewer emergency room visits than patients in the control group (p=0.050). Greater symptom severity andmore comorbid conditions were also predictive of more emergency room visits. The intervention was effectivein reducing the number of hospital visits for the subgroup of patients who at baseline reported aboveaverage symptom severity (p=0.023). Conclusions: These findings suggest that a nursing intervention focusingon educating patients regarding specific strategies to be applied for controlling symptoms may be worthwhile,as the patients may regain some control in managing their symptoms and thus ultimately require feweremergency room services and hospital visits. Such a straightforward approach may empower patients, enhancetheir quality of life and reduce overall costs of cancer care.
Keywords: Case-Control Studies, Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use, Health Services - utilization, Longitudinal Studies, Neoplasms - physiopathology, Patient Education as Topic, Severity of Illness Index
Editorial
01 April 2024 : Editorial
Editorial: Forty Years of Waiting for Prevention and Cure of HIV Infection – Ongoing Challenges and Hopes for Vaccine Development and Overcoming Antiretroviral Drug ResistanceDOI: 10.12659/MSM.944600
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944600
In Press
06 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research
Comparison of Outcomes between Single-Level and Double-Level Corpectomy in Thoracolumbar Reconstruction: A ...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943797
21 Mar 2024 : Meta-Analysis
Economic Evaluation of COVID-19 Screening Tests and Surveillance Strategies in Low-Income, Middle-Income, a...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943863
10 Apr 2024 : Clinical Research
Predicting Acute Cardiovascular Complications in COVID-19: Insights from a Specialized Cardiac Referral Dep...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.942612
06 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research
Enhanced Surgical Outcomes of Popliteal Cyst Excision: A Retrospective Study Comparing Arthroscopic Debride...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.941102
Most Viewed Current Articles
17 Jan 2024 : Review article
Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron VariantDOI :10.12659/MSM.942799
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799
14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research
Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase LevelsDOI :10.12659/MSM.937990
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990
16 May 2023 : Clinical Research
Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387
Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387
01 Jan 2022 : Editorial
Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952