Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service III (Projects aiming at quality service to patients and their carers)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Yeung NM(1), Chong Y(1), Mak SY(1), Chu SH(1), Chiu SY(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine (Haematology and Oncology), Hong Kong Children’s Hospital
Introduction :
Self administration of chemotherapy at home offers convenience to patients, reduces travel costs and optimizes the utilization of healthcare resources. However, improper handling of oral chemotherapy can jeopardize patients’ and caregivers’ safety, leading to medication errors, nonadherence, contamination, and inadvertent exposure to cytotoxic drugs. Paediatric oncology nurses play a pivotal role in the education and symptom management of these patients. It is of utmost importance to prioritize patient education and establish standardized procedures that ensure the safe handling of oral chemotherapy and targeted drugs by parents and caregivers.
Objectives :
1. To facilitate parents and carers on safe handling of oral chemotherapy and targeted drugs for paediatric oncology patients at home.
2. To develop patient education materials to facilitate patients’ discharge education by healthcare providers.
Methodology :
Survey design was adopted. Target participants included parents and carers of paediatric haematology and oncology patients. Participants were recruited in Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Centre, Ambulatory Chemotherapy Centre and Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Centre in Hong Kong Children’s Hospital (HKCH). Individual education talk with demonstration was arranged and supplemented with education pamphlets which could be easily retrieved via scanning of QR code. Participants were provided with a survey to self-report their understanding, confidence, knowledge and opinions after the education program. Results from survey, verbal feedback from participants and observations from staff were analyzed.
Result & Outcome :
Between October 2022 to January 2023, 54 participants were recruited. Over 96% of the participants strongly agreed or agreed that their understanding of safely handling different forms of oral chemotherapy and targeted drugs had increased. Participants also reported increased confidence in self administration at home. 94% of the participants strongly agreed or agreed that the use of QR code was useful and convenient for accessing education materials, although occasional technical assistance may be required. Two participants were referred to clinical pharmacists due to the complexity of home chemotherapy regimen. It was noted that there was a common misconception among participants that oral chemotherapy posed a lower exposure risk than intravenous formulations. Consequently, cytotoxic precautions were not consistently followed at home after discharge from hospital.
The education initiatives were effective to increase parents’ and carers’ understanding and confidence on safe handling of oral chemotherapy and targeted drugs for paediatric oncology patients at home. The education materials were readily accessible to patients and carers. The development of standardized procedures and education materials facilitated the discharge education process by ward nurses and pharmacists.
