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A.D.M. Richardson



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    O19 - Support and Palliation I (ID 138)

    • Event: WCLC 2013
    • Type: Oral Abstract Session
    • Track: Nurses
    • Presentations: 1
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      O19.02 - Developing Guidance For The Supportive And Palliative Care Of Lung Cancer And Mesothelioma Patients And Their Carers (ID 84)

      10:30 - 12:00  |  Author(s): A.D.M. Richardson

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background
      Lung cancer remains the United Kingdom's commonest cause of cancer death and accounts for 1 in 14 of UK deaths from cancers. Approximately 41,428 new cases of lung cancer and 2500 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the UK (CRUK : Cancer Research UK 2009.) Evidence shows eighty per cent of people will present with advanced disease and the majority of these will die within a year of diagnosis (CRUK 2009.) There is a large amount of evidence in existence to support end of life care but this is very generic in nature. Consensus opinion from the National Lung Cancer Forum for Nurses recognised the need for specialist guidance for lung cancer and mesothelioma patients to enhance their end of life experience and to inform health care professionals who are caring for this group of patients. The focus of the project was to develop guidance driven by evidence from patients and carers, to focus on issues highlighted by them that were important. Previous guidance produced had not had this direct focus.

      Methods
      This guidance has been developed over an eighteen month period by a dedicated working party with expertise in caring for lung cancer and mesothelioma patients and carers and incorporating current evidence and guidance which was reviewed extensively. The document provides detailed supportive and palliative care specialist interventions to assist any health care professional who is caring for a patient with advanced lung cancer or mesothelioma. The guidance is focused around nine key elements that were identified in work carried out by the Health Experience Research Group at the University of Oxford. Cancer patients identified nine key areas of their care that were important to them or that they found to be lacking. Holistic approach to care. Getting the bad news. Care co ordination. Responsiveness and ease of access to benefits and support. Pain control and symptom management. Staff attitudes and empathy. End of life choice and the actual experience. Carer focus. Each of these nine key elements are addressed within the guidance. Recommendations are made based on evidence and specialist experience. Good practice examples are included collected from a wide range of lung cancer services across the United Kingdom to assist users to develop their own practice.

      Results
      The guidance was completed and published in Novmber 2012. The guidance provides a usable document with evidence and practice examples to assist health care professonals to improve supportive and palliative care within their area. The document is being diseminated locally by specialist lung cancer nurses and nationally via the National Lung Cancer Forum for Nurses.

      Conclusion
      Although recently published and to date has not been formally evaluated, this guidance has been well received by health care professionals and organisations associated with the care of lung cancer and mesothelioma patients. References 1. Cancer Research UK (2009) : Incidences of Lung Cancer (online) Cancer Research UK. Available from 2. Health Experience Research Group (HERG) University of Oxford, GC Associates, Unpublished.

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