Nursing Assessment of Patients with Diagnosed Lung Cancer L. Knorr, L. Farling, S. Almokadem, T. Kuhlengel, J.W. Toth and R. Bascom Penn State University College of Medicine Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Nursing 521 1. Background Desired Support Sources Smoking History A new diagnosis of lung cancer thrusts patients into a bewildering, medically complex world with a new multidisciplinary multispecialty group providing evaluation and treatment. We focused this assessment on patients diagnosed with lung cancer within the last 6 months. 1. Background Desired Support Sources Smoking History Smoking Status, n=23 What would help you the most in dealing with your diagnosis? Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Rank 4 Rank 5 Social Worker Help 3 2 5 0 0 Support Group 3 4 0 4 0 3. Materials and Methods 2. Hypothesis We hypothesize that a structured nursing assessment will identify information gaps and provide direction for developing a patient-centered lung cancer initiative at our institution. Never Smoked Smoked in the Past Current Smokers 6 7 Years Smoke Free Support Group 3 4 0 4 0 One‐on‐One Discussion with Health Care Provider 10 2 1 1 0 Spiritual Services 3 2 2 3 0 Other 2 0 0 0 3 Patients attending the recently established multidisciplinary lung cancer clinic at the Penn State Cancer Institute consented to the completion of a questionnaire seeking demographic characteristics, personal smoking history, as well as information on their knowledge of lung cancer, reaction to diagnosis, perceived information needs and desired method of 2 3 4 5 6 moke-Free Respondents 2 4 6 8 10 Preferred way to receive information ber of Respondents obtaining information. 4. Patient Characteristics Only 9 of 23 (39%) currently smoked cigarettes, but 5/14 former smokers had quit within the six months. 5. Conclusion Twenty-three patients completed the questionnaire. Patients averaged 67+ 10 years old; M:F ratio was 13:10. 8/23 had not graduated from high school, 9/23 were high school graduates, 0 1 Less than 1 Year 1 to 5 years 6 to 10 years 11+ years Sm 0 Verbally-Nurse Verbally - Doctor Group Written Video Other The strong preference is for gaining information in one-on-one interactions with nurses or doctors. Num Verbally- Doctor Group Written Video Other Verbally- Nurse These results indicate a desire for basic information about lung cancer among patients diagnosed with lung cancer, and demonstrate a diverse range of reported needs and desired sources of support and information. These findings suggest an important role for nursing assessments in guiding education and support service development. and 6/23 had post-high school education. 91% reported having a primary care doctor. Urban:rural residence ratio was 9:14. Eighty-three percent of patients reported their parents had “ever smoked”, while 87% had ever lived in a household with regular tobacco smoke exposure and 87% had ever been exposed to tobacco smoke at work. Over half had no idea what proportion of tobacco smokers develop lung cancer; the Information Desired by Patients 8 10 12 14 Respondents References Penn State Cancer Institute and Lung Cancer Disease Management Group: Co-Directors H. Wagner and C. Belani Browning, K. K., & Wewers, M. E. (2003, November). Smoking cessation and cancer. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 19(4), 268-275. Burns, D. M. (2003, November). Tobacco-related diseases. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 19(4), 244-249. Cooley, M. E., Sipples, R. L., Murphy, M., & Sarna, L. (2008, February). Smoking cessation and lung cancer: Oncology nurses can make a difference. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 24(1), 16-26. Dest, V. M. (2006, November). Radioprotectants: Adding quality of life to survivorship? Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 22(4), 249-256. Joyce, M., Schwartz, S., & Huhmann, M. (2008, February). Supportive care in lung cancer. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 24(1), 57-67. Rutledge, D. N., & Kuebler, K. K. (2005, February). Applying evidence to palliative care. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 21(1), 36-43. Silvestri, G. A., & Rivera, M. P. (2005, December). Targeted therapy for treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Chest, 128(6), 3975-3984. Acknowledgments remaining estimated a median of 50%. All patients reported believing they had lung cancer and 21/23 reported being aware of their prognosis. . 0 2 4 6 Treatment Options Need to stop smoking? Prevention/Early Detection Cure Rate Treatment Side Effects Staging/Prognosis Other Information about treatment options, cure rate and treatment side effects were most desired. Number of R