Nurse-led Follow-up Care for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

NCT ID: NCT01167179

Last Updated: 2017-12-15

Study Results

Results available

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

160 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2008-12-31

Study Completion Date

2012-05-31

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to conduct an early evaluation of a nurse-led follow up intervention added to the usual medically oriented follow up care. Besides evaluating the feasibility and acceptability to patients, the effect on psychosocial adjustment and quality of life of patients is determined.

Detailed Description

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Background: After treatment for cancer, follow-up surveillance is regarded important. In head and neck cancer patients however, increasing research evidence shows that at least the goal of detecting recurrence of cancer during routine control visits in an asymptomatic stage is not achieved. Other goals of follow-up such as management of treatment complications and helping patients and families cope and adjust remain important and ask for an accurate, effective but tailored and sensitive approach. Increasingly, nurses are mentioned as care providers best suited to perform this task.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to conduct an early evaluation of a nurse-led follow up intervention added to the usual medically oriented follow up care. Besides evaluating the feasibility and acceptability to patients, the effect on psychosocial adjustment and quality of life of patients is determined.

Methods and design: A quasi-experimental prospective design is used. Two groups of patients are enrolled consecutively (n=160) and patient data are collected at baseline (T0), at 6(T1) and at 12(T2) months respectively. The duration of the intervention is defined to the first year of follow up. Participating nurses are trained prior to the recruitment of the intervention group and receive supervision and individual coaching during the entire duration of the intervention phase.

Outcome measures: Primary outcome, psychosocial adjustment to illness. Secondary outcomes, health related quality of life, psychosocial problems, and usage of care.

Conditions

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Head and Neck Cancer

Keywords

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head and neck cancer nurse-led care follow-up care professional-patient relations psychosocial adjustment quasi-experimental prospective quality of life

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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comparison group

Usual care Participants in the comparison group receive the usual care which consists of a 5 year medical routine control schedule based on the national guidelines, and - if appropriate - involvement of the dietician and the speech language therapist.During years one to five the routine control appointments are planned at a minimum of every 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 months respectively. Most patients who undergo a total laryngectomy have additional contact with an oncology nurse during their 6-8 weekly medical control visits at the outpatient clinic for approximately the first year of follow-up. All other head and neck cancer patients have no structured follow-up contact with an oncology nurse.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

nurse-led consultation

Interventional care Year 1 follow-up: 2-monthly medical control visit + 30 minute nursing consultation, to a minimum of 6 in year 1. No restrictions with regard to cancer stage, site or treatment modality.

Intervention consist of standardised nursing consultations comprising a thorough needs assessment, supportive counseling, adequate referral to other care providers if necessary and improvement of the continuity of follow-up care. Goals: helping patients (and their partners) cope with the physical and psychosocial consequences of treatment and help them to gradually adjust to 'the life after', and into survivorship.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

nurse-led consultation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Content of the intervention The intervention consists of structured and standardised nursing follow up consultations comprising a thorough needs assessment, supportive counseling, adequate referral to other care providers if necessary and improvement of the continuity of follow-up care. The goals of nursing follow-up care are summarised as helping patients (and often their partners too) to cope with the physical and psychosocial consequences of treatment and help them to gradually adjust to 'the life after', and into survivorship.

Interventions

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nurse-led consultation

Content of the intervention The intervention consists of structured and standardised nursing follow up consultations comprising a thorough needs assessment, supportive counseling, adequate referral to other care providers if necessary and improvement of the continuity of follow-up care. The goals of nursing follow-up care are summarised as helping patients (and often their partners too) to cope with the physical and psychosocial consequences of treatment and help them to gradually adjust to 'the life after', and into survivorship.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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nurse-led follow-up care

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Diagnosed with a primary head and neck tumour
* Absence of other cancers diagnosed
* Treatment with curative intent, all treatment modalities
* Treatment and 12 month follow-up planned in Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre
* Able to speak, write and understand Dutch
* Cognitively able to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

* Actual psychiatric disease
* Actual alcohol addiction
* Known life expectancy of \< 6 months
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Radboud University Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Jacqueline de Leeuw

MSc

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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T van Achterberg, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Radboud University Medical Center

Locations

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Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre

Nijmegen, , Netherlands

Site Status

Countries

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Netherlands

References

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de Leeuw J, Prins JB, Teerenstra S, Merkx MA, Marres HA, van Achterberg T. Nurse-led follow-up care for head and neck cancer patients: a quasi-experimental prospective trial. Support Care Cancer. 2013 Feb;21(2):537-47. doi: 10.1007/s00520-012-1553-1. Epub 2012 Aug 4.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 22864472 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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JDL-001-TVA

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id