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. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):171–177.

CANO/ACIO Annual Conference Poster Abstracts

PMCID: PMC9894368  PMID: 36789224
Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):171.

A-1. Nursing-led benchmarking project: Exploring nurses’ role across diagnostic breast centres

Gabrielle Chartier 1, Lindsay Schwartz 2, Rajshree Patel 3

Multiple breast designated reference centres for Investigation (CRID) exist throughout Quebec, as a part of the Quebec breast cancer screening program (PQDCS), with the goal of centralizing, coordinating, and accelerating diagnostic services. Thereby, the cancer diagnosis inflicts an emotional, financial and psychosocial impact on overall well-being and quality of life. Patients experience heightened psychological distress during diagnostic testing and uncertainty while waiting for results. Provision of timely diagnosis and management, as well as informational and emotional support is imperative.

In November 2021, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux (MSSS) granted the CIUSSS Centre-Ouest de l’Ile de Montréal the mandate to assume the role as the Centre Responsable in establishing a breast cancer network. Furthermore, nursing-led work has been undertaken to explore patient care pathways throughout the breast cancer trajectory, starting with diagnostic centres.

We will present the findings from a benchmarking project undertaken at several CRID centres with the goal of better understanding nurses’ role, models of care delivery and patient care transitions. Information obtained through both interviews and a systematic literature review will highlight the pivotal role nurses play at CRID centres in providing comprehensive care, reducing delays, enhancing education and service provision while meeting patient care needs along their cancer journey.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):171.

A-2. Venipuncture in the affected limb of patients with breast cancer: Translating knowledge to practice using The Implementation Roadmap

Michelle Harbott 1, Heather Kilgour 2, Jagbir Kaur 2, Korenelia Filipowski 1, Scott Beck 1

Background

Lymphedema is a common complication experienced by patients with breast cancer that involves swelling of an arm following surgical lymph node removal or radiation to the lymph nodes. To mitigate the risk of lymphedema, both patients and nurses are often advised to avoid venipuncture to the ‘affected arm’, including blood draws and intravenous insertion. More recently, as direct care nurses within a large provincial organization, we were challenged with navigating mixed perceptions amongst clinicians and patients regarding the risk of lymphedema following venipuncture in the affected arm. The catalyst for this project was a curious question arising from the practice environment. We aimed to reduce patient confusion related to venipuncture in the affected arm, develop standardized organizational recommendations, and support clinicians in understanding the evidence used to inform the recommendations.

Methods

Nurses across BC Cancer followed The Implementation Roadmap to establish clarity regarding venipuncture in the affected limb following radiation or surgery, and to provide recommendations for oncology nursing practice.

Results

Throughout this presentation, we will detail our knowledge translation process, from the identification of the clinical practice issue through to the development and rollout of updated resources to clarify BC Cancer’s position on venipuncture in the affected limb. We will also discuss the literature pertaining to venipuncture in the affected arm, and provide our recommendations for oncology nursing practice.

Conclusions

The Implementation Roadmap acted as a clear and pragmatic tool for nurses at BC Cancer to translate knowledge regarding lymphedema risk into practice. Insights from this process may inform nursing-led knowledge translation activities moving forward.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):171–172.

A-3. COVID-19 isolation precautions in immunocompromised oncology patients

Ha Pham 1, Eric Bow 1, Mackenzie Jansen 1

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic placed unprecedented pressures on the healthcare system resulting in heightened actions to mitigate healthcare-acquired transmission of SARS-CoV-2. While provincial COVID-19 case management provided guidelines for Infection Control Practitioners (ICP), they did not take into consideration our immunocompromised population. CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB) serves a significant number of patients with immune system challenges due to treatments or the underlying disease, so needed to create a separate protocol for the management of COVID-19 in its patient population.

Project

Establishing criteria for who would be identified as immunocompromised was done through evidence-based research and in consultation with the infectious disease physician at CCMB. At CCMB, the duration and discontinuation of additional precautions depended on the immune status of the patients. Literature demonstrated evidence of prolonged shedding of viable virus in patients with ongoing anti-cancer treatments. Additionally, a local study found that the SARS-CoV-2 viral load based on viral culture decreased between day 21 to 23 post-symptom onset in immunocompromised patients. Accordingly, CCMB placed these patients on a 21-day isolation period but created difficulties for healthcare providers in managing anti-cancer treatment plans for COVID-19 patients. The ICP team recommended a repeat PCR test on isolation day 13 to help inform earlier discontinuance of isolation. A cohesive multi-disciplinary team collaborated on a process to balance the need to prevent COVID-19 transmission yet not impede cancer treatment.

Results

The resulting algorithm helped to expedite decision making for treatment and discontinuation of precautions. Some challenges in implementation were identified but were resolved through improved communication with testing sites, CCMB staff, and lab partners.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):172.

A-4. Facilitators and barriers in oncology clinical practice influencing nurses’ completion of GRASP

Anita Long 1, Eleonora Cretu 1, Kalliopi Stilos 1

Abstract

Hospital administrators have a great interest in obtaining a valid and reliable nursing workload measurement to help determine the hours of care per patient needed; one such method available is through the GRASP Workload Measurement System. At Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, nurses’ GRASP compliance and accuracy completion performance varies and often does not meet the set goal of 90%. This target assists the organization in estimating the ongoing nursing workload and patients’ care needs ensuring the provision of safe and appropriate care that is fiscally responsible.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to identify the facilitators and barriers that influence nurses’ completion of GRASP. A quality improvement project was conducted using a mixed-method design. The sample comprised nurses working in oncology acute care and palliative care inpatient units. The Theoretical Domain Framework was used in designing the questionnaire survey and interview questions that listed pertinent and measurable factors that influence nurses’ GRASP completion. Some of the facilitators are attributed to nurses’ awareness about the GRASP’s role in funding estimations and staffing levels, sense of job responsibility for completing the workload, and a perception that it is a potential tool to organize the nursing work in a busy shift. The barriers identified by nurses include insufficient GRASP knowledge, limited access to workstations and computers, GRASP tool elements not capturing the complexity of the nursing work, time constraints, increased patients’ acuity, and care demands.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):172.

A-5. Effectiveness of a standard screening program for intravenous immunoglobulin at community

Amina Malik 1, Ashmina Damani 1

Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) are products generated from pooled human donor plasma and administered as a treatment for patients with immunodeficiency or autoimmune disorders. Distributed by Canadian Blood Services, IVIG is a limited and costly blood derived product that is in excessive demand. To ensure optimum utilization of IVIG products, and to ensure patient safety by providing recommended dosage, a quality improvement project was initiated at our hospital.

In January 2021, a baseline audit was performed on utilization of IVIG by data collection on IVIG doses ordered by physicians for 45 patients. The ordered dose was then compared to the recommended dose using a weight-dosing calculator. Baseline data showed only 22% of patients were administered the correct recommended dose. In April 2021, Transfusion Medicine (TM) Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) started screening IVIG requests from physicians by ensuring that the physicians used a standard IVIG request form that included patient height, weight, diagnosis and dose in gm/kg according to diagnosis using an IVIG body weight-dosing calculator and if the recommended dose matched, the requested products were dispensed. If MLTs found any discrepancy, they connected with ordering physicians for approval to adjust the dose to the recommended dose according to the body weight-dosing calculator. When the ordering physician did not approve the recommended dose, it required approval from the TM Medical Director.

This resulted in 71% of patients getting the recommended dose of IVIG and 16% required additional TM Medical Director approval. Thirteen percent of patients could not be reassessed, as they were a one-time dose. This increased patient safety, proper utilization of IVIG, and savings of approximately $10,000 within thre months.

For sustainability, work in progress to train the physicians and creating a robust system that can provide appropriate guidelines to the physician at the time of ordering IVIG.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):172.

B-1. Enteral versus parenteral nutrition – What is the best for stem cell transplants?

Phillip Nguyen 1, Kristen Brazel 1, Leslie Lepage 1

Patients who undergo a hematopoietic stem cell transplant are at high risk of developing gastrointestinal complications. This can range from mucositis, nausea and vomiting, malnutrition, GVHD, to neutropenic enterocolitis. It is our job to manage these complications and make sure that patients remain well-nourished throughout the transplant process. One of the ways to do that is to offer our patients either enteral or parenteral nutrition. A systematic and literature review was conducted to evaluate the benefits and disadvantages of enteral and parenteral nutrition. At the moment, there are no clear guidelines to identify which might be better to minimize complications and therefore maximize recovery.

We are currently working under a provincial government where doing more with less is necessary to ensure care for all. This presentation will help nurses advocate for their patients accordingly.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):173.

B-2. Optimizing oncology nursing scope of practice with added competency of tuberculosis testing

Samantha Soto 1, Jennifer Sunga 2

Background

Evidence shows that first-line chemotherapy regimens for treatment of multiple myeloma may result in an increased risk for reactivation of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection in some individuals. This is a result of treatment induced T-cell dysfunction. It is crucial that patients complete TB testing prior to commencing treatment for prevention of secondary complications. To meet the demands of the ever-growing patient population with multiple myeloma, the team had identified gaps in practice and the need to accommodate for TB testing on-site, to support timely initiation of treatment. The existing resources available have led patients to seek TB testing outside of their catchment area, creating a barrier to accessible healthcare services and an emphasis on psychosocial issues.

Goal

To better accommodate this patient population, the team has planned to implement universal on-site access for TB testing in the clinic, by adding this competency to the oncology nursing scope of practice.

Hypothesis

By making TB testing accessible in the clinic, we foresee an increased efficiency in the provision of patient care.

Methods

The Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment (EPIS) framework is utilized to help guide the execution of TB testing in the clinic. The process involves a multi-pronged approach: 1) analyzing current evidence-based practice; 2) deploying methods for education delivery and maintaining competency amongst the nurses; and 3) establishing logistical workflow requirements.

Conclusion

The implementation of TB testing in the clinic would improve timeliness of treatment, consistency and continuity of care, and quality of life for patients.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):173.

B-3. A quality project on improving patient safety: Prostate biopsy

Amina Malik 1, Laura Alexander 1

Ensuring patient safety pre- and post-procedure in one of the critical key-point indicator. In a prostate clinic in one of the leading community hospitals, three incidences were reported that compromised the patient identification process. In two out of three procedures, wrong labelling was done on biopsy samples. Whereas, in one incidence, a wrong patient underwent biopsy procedure, and was told that he had cancer, and was followed. This resulted in actual patient harm.

To address the issue, a quality project was initiated in March 2022 to review the overall process and existing system to identify and work on the gaps. A team was formed that consisted of unit leadership, representative from quality and risk office, staff, and physicians. Each incidence was reviewed and analyzed and brain storming was done to review the strategies and interventions to improve the patient identification process. Some of the strategies identified and implemented were checking monthly surgical safety checklist audits, developing a pre- and post-procedural checklist, implementation of time out process before start of the procedure, and double checking/ verification of labelling of sample by nurse and technician.

This resulted in improvement in the process of patient safety. Results of monthly surgical safety checklist audit is reported to quality and risk office and is monitored as a key-point indicator. Work is in progress to evaluate the outcomes of the strategies implemented on monthly basis and discuss sustainability plans.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):173.

B-4. Re-designing the ESAS-r for ambulatory oncology settings

Claire Link 1, April Hildebrand 1, Andrea Delure 1, Lindsi Chmielewski 1, Louise Smith 1, Linda Watson 1

Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) are routinely collected throughout Cancer Care Alberta (CCA) using a standardized reporting tool, which includes the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-Revised (ESAS-r). The ESAS-r is widely used in clinical settings internationally. This tool was validated within the context of a clinical environment, with a healthcare professional available to explain symptom definitions and rating scales. As digital health strategies emerge, patients will frequently receive questionnaires such as the ESAS-r electronically to be completed at home, without assistance from a healthcare professional.

CCA is shifting to a new province-wide clinical information system, which includes a patient portal feature, allowing patients to complete PROs tools (including ESAS-r) prior to their appointment. To ensure that the ESAS-r could reliably be used as an electronic, independent tool to gather accurate patient-reported information, a redesign and validation process was initiated.

This presentation will explore CCA’s ESAS-r redesign and validation process. Collaborators in the redesign process included patient/family advisors, frontline clinicians, survey design and validation experts, and human factors staff. The redesign process focused on enhancing and expanding symptom definitions to increase clarity, and identifying additional symptoms where assessment with a 0–10 scale would be beneficial. The new measure is being referred to as the electronic ESAS-r Cancer or (e)ESAS-r Cancer. Cognitive interviews were used to validate the definitions, while ease of completion was evaluated using an electronic mock-up of the tool. 96% of participants completed this remotely without needing assistance and 85%–100% confirmed the new definitions were stronger than the originals. Other ambulatory cancer facilities may want to adopt the (e)ESAS-r Cancer, as digital health trends continue to grow.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):174.

C-1. Informal caregivers in palliative care planning: Perception, documentation, and integration

Charlotte Lee 1, Jacob Loong 2, Lauren Lovold 1, Melanie Honsinger 3, Jason Wong 4,5

Background

Informal caregivers are indispensable in providing and coordinating care for palliative patients at the end of life. Yet, little is known about if and how the information about informal caregivers is integrated in palliative care planning.

The purpose of this study is to explore how informal caregivers of palliative patients are assessed, documented, and considered by the interprofessional team in rural and non-rural settings.

Methods

A multi-method design was used at one rural hospice and one non-rural cancer clinic in Ontario to address the research purpose. A one-time survey was administered to palliative cancer patients and healthcare providers regarding their perception and practice of how informal caregiving was documented. Concurrently, retrospective chart review was conducted to validate the actual practice in addition to survey. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, Pearson’s correlation and content analysis were used to analyze study data.

Findings

Preliminary data showed that physicians took a key role in inquiring and documenting informal support (IS) from caregivers. Most patients reported nurses also asked the question but, from our chart review, nursing documentation of IS was not found as frequently as physician’s documentation. Also, while 50% of provider participants felt that IS should be an ongoing assessment, our chart review and patient survey results showed that IS was asked at the first visit and when patient condition or treatment changes.

Conclusion

While all participants agreed that IS was important, inconsistency of practice in communicating IS needs to be addressed to facilitate a team-based approach to support both patients and their informal caregivers.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):174.

C-2. Cancer screening for refugees in OECD countries: A realist review

Angille Heintzman 1

Why don’t refugees participate in primary care cancer screening programs? The first phase of a research project to answer this question comprises a realist review of cancer screening programmes in primary care for adult refugees who land in high-income countries. The focus is on cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer screening, as the three major cancer screening programs offered to people in many Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, and where the evidence suggests most strongly that benefits of screening outweigh the potential harms. A realist review involves a literature search, construction of initial program theory, extracting data from literature to test the initial theory, and iteratively searching, testing, and synthesizing evidence. Health system complexity, language and culture differences, and difficulties creating a strong relationship with a primary care provider, cause a lack of understanding of the importance and immediacy of screening. However, there are models of care, as demonstrated in refugee-friendly clinics in Canada and other countries, that can mitigate some of the barriers refugees face to participating in cancer screening. The outputs of this review will inform later primary data collection, to include a quantitative review of screening data, followed by qualitative data collection with refugees, policymakers, and primary care providers. The research is intended to inform policy and practice to ensure that refugees in high-income countries are cared for appropriately and equitably through reducing cancer mortality.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):174.

C-3. The process of developing a survey that examines the experience of oncology nurses

Charlotte Lee 1, Caitlin Tumey 1, Sue Bookey-Bassett 1, Jacob Loong 2, Catriona Buick 3, Jason Wong 4

Findings

A literature review was first conducted to identify relevant theories that describe the conceptual underpinnings of oncology nursing scope of practice, interprofessional care and the adoption of virtual care. Next, drafting of survey items took place that integrated the frameworks. This process involved back-and-forth discussion between two specialty oncology nurses, taking into considerations of anecdotal challenges expressed by oncology nurses on the frontlines. Next, feedback from nine nurse leaders across Canada was sought to establish face validity of the questionnaire and to best capture the purpose. Nurse leaders’ feedback was analyzed and implemented into the final questionnaire. The final questionnaire is composed of 40 items organized into three sections: Background, Nursing Practice and Interprofessional Collaboration.

Conclusion

A model of care that explicates how an interprofessional team collaborates to deliver virtual care would provide further understanding on factors influencing nursing scope of practice.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):175.

C-4. Addressing hematologic cancer symptom burden through evidence-informed oncology nursing practice

Kylie Teggart 1, Denise Bryant-Lukosius 1, Jennifer Lonsbury 1, Margaret Forbes 2, Nancy Carter 1, Rebecca Gannan 1

Background

More than 21,000 Canadians are diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma each year. Hematologic cancer symptom burden can be severe and distressing, negatively impacting quality of life. Despite the availability of clinical practice guidelines to manage cancer-related symptoms with positive effects, cancer care providers do not consistently use them in practice. Oncology nurses are well-positioned to improve symptom management for patients with hematologic malignancies; yet, to date, most implementation strategies have aimed to educate nurses about these guidelines without engaging patient/provider perspectives or exploring multi-level factors that help or hinder guideline use. These efforts have resulted in limited success.

Objectives

This study aims to engage patient, caregiver, nursing, and organizational knowledge users in an outpatient malignant hematology setting to 1) understand patient, caregiver, and oncology nurses’ experiences with symptom management and identify contextual factors influencing guideline use, and 2) co-design tailored implementation strategies to support guideline use and improve symptomatology.

Methods

A novel experience-based co-design (EBCD) approach will use patient and provider engagement to collectively identify strategies to improve cancer symptom management. A Steering Group of diverse knowledge users will inform all study phases. EBCD meetings will bring patients, providers, and decision-makers together to identify potential barriers, assets, and key priorities, and develop tailored implementation strategies to support evidence-informed symptom management.

Significance

This study addresses a research-practice gap that negatively impacts quality of life for individuals with cancer. Participatory research approaches will result in contextually relevant strategies to improve cancer care delivery and support oncology nurses to provide evidence-informed symptom management for outpatients with hematologic cancers.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):175.

C-5. Support interventions offered to family members of a child treated with HSCT

Pauline Shapton 1

This scoping review aims to identify support interventions for these family members and compare their approaches to the Institute of Patient- and Family-Centred Care model. Databases were searched (CINAHL, Embase, and Medline) with keywords related to the following components of population, concept, and context; family members of a child treated with haematopoeitic stem cell transplant (HSCT), support interventions, and family-centred care. Out of 665 identified citations, nine addressed the scoping review question. Studies were conducted from 2000 to 2020. Findings revealed two main types of support interventions that included psychological face-to-face and technology-based interventions. The majority of the interventions assisted in improving family members’ psychological well-being. However, none included all four principles of the family-centred care model. This review recommends that, as researchers expand their interventions to multiple institutions, they aim to include all the above family-centred care principles and, thus, develop interventions that support partnership with healthcare and family members that, in return, ultimately improve the HSCT treatment process.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):175–176.

D-1. Patient education development for the “new normal”

Carrie Mazoff 1, Renata Benc 2

The importance of patient education materials (PEMs) is widely recognized. High-quality PEMs empower patients in self-care and in their relationships with healthcare professionals. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant proportion of cancer care taking place remotely, which accelerated the need for high-quality digital PEMs across Rossy Cancer Network (RCN) partner hospitals. Furthermore, new patient orientation sessions were either cancelled or moved online. In accordance with this need, we collaborated with professionals across our network (nursing, dieticians, and psychosocial staff) to develop and deploy digital symptom management guides for the most common symptoms experienced by oncology patients.

Our symptom management guides were largely based on existing literature from organizations like Cancer Care Ontario and the BC Cancer Agency, and structured in keeping with the pan-Canadian Oncology Symptom Triage and Remote Support (COSTaRS) guidelines. Each symptom guide was limited to one page and formatted in a user-friendly way. Realistic health literacy levels were respected, and every document was created in both English and French. Importantly, we supplemented this literature with considerations made for patients going through immunotherapy, as well.

A variety of video PEMs were also fast-tracked for creations and publication in spring 2020, covering topics like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, cancer nutrition, cancer and COVID-19, and setting up Zoom for virtual appointments. These education videos have garnered approximately 100 to 500 views each. All videos were produced in English and French, and some of them also include subtitle options in 18 other languages.

As part of our next steps, we will perform understandability and actionability assessments on all digital PEMs created. Finally, as we continue to create new digital PEMs, we plan to increase patient use by expanding access to specific cancer disease sites.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):176.

D-2. The use of simulation-based education in cancer care: A scoping review

Amina Silva 1

Background

Continuing education for cancer care providers is essential for promoting high-quality patient care. Simulation-based education can be an effective strategy to educate adult learners. However, there is a lack of synthesized evidence available to inform the delivery of simulation-based education for nurses and physicians across the cancer care continuum.

Aim

To collate and synthesize the literature on how simulation has been used to educate nurses and physicians about cancer care.

Methods

The JBI scoping review methodology was used with searches for published and unpublished literature on Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, ResearchGate, and OpenGrey. Articles were eligible if they were primary studies discussing how simulation has been used to educate nurses and physicians about any aspect of cancer care. Two independent reviewers screened the references, extracted, and analyzed the data.

Results

Nineteen studies were included, and the majority were written in English, from USA and published between 2016–2021. Our findings showed that most interventions often used simulation in person strategies in controlled environments (e.g., simulation lab) and focused on improving skills, knowledge, confidence, or decision making for physicians and nurses caring for patients with heterogeneous cancer patients. Overall, simulation demonstrated positive results in educating nurses and physicians through improved knowledge, skills, and satisfaction. However, simulation can be time-consuming and require significant resources for effective implementation.

Conclusions

Although simulation demonstrated promise when used among nurses and physicians across the cancer continuum, significant time and financial resources are necessary to develop and implement these educational strategies. Educators and researchers should be aware of these challenges when planning and implementing simulation-based educational strategies.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):176.

D-3. Virtual systemic therapy education project

Sarah Felber 1

The clinical nurse educators present the information to patients virtually, and send out a survey post to collect patient feedback. The purpose of this project is to use technology to promote wellness for our patients, and provide specialty oncology education and care. The first session was offered on April 5, 2022, and sessions will be offered weekly for four weeks, before completing a preliminary evaluation of the pilot project. Feedback has been positive thus far and patients have stated how beneficial these sessions are and appreciate being able to participate from the comfort of their homes. The patient and provider outcomes will be evaluated prior to orienting oncology specialized RNs to virtual patient education and integrating these sessions into their roles.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):176.

D-4. RN reviewers for systemic therapy protocols

Gurjeevan Dosanjh 1

BC Cancer Systemic Therapy Protocols serve as a guide for the safe, consistent and evidence-based care received by patients with cancer throughout British Columbia. Systemic therapy options have become more numerous, diverse, and complex in line with advancements in treatment development and accessibility.

Registered nurses (RNs) certified in systemic therapy administration and symptom support look to protocols to include vital aspects of nursing practice. They are the experts in this work. Currently, there is lack of active RN involvement with all systemic therapy protocols at BC Cancer. This absence has led to inconsistent nursing feedback in a timely and efficient manner, often when protocols have already been integrated into practice. This has resulted in unanticipated consequences that impact nursing practice and education, place further stress on nursing/pharmacy/provider resources and potential strain on the patient experience.

To address this gap, provincial oncology nurse educators have developed a new process in which representative RNs at BC Cancer will review all systemic therapy protocols that are newly created or significantly revised prior to the launch date of the protocol. This group has a shared responsibility to represent all six BC Cancer regional sites directly or via engagement of content experts to identify practice impacts and any education needs, and to communicate effectively among practice, pharmacy, and point-of-care teams. The ultimate goal is to have a centralized and formalized approach for consistent RN engagement in new systemic therapy protocols by each tumor site group.

Our presentation will highlight the steps and processes required to implement this system, impacts of this change on practice and education, and will present key learnings from implementation of this collaborative approach to strengthening the nursing voice.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):177.

D-5. JCURA student journey to cancer care nursing

Claire Fullerton 1

I am a recipient of the Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Award (JCURA). The JCURA is a competitive scholarship promoting and supporting students to pursue research in their field of study. In my case, I wanted to explore nursing in the oncology specialty. As a nursing student, I have always been intrigued by research, as it lays the foundation for evidence-informed practice and the advancement of patient care. Oncology nursing is a specific interest of mine due to its prevalence and my personal experience of assisting family members as they work through the challenges of using digital tools to navigate the new era of e-healthcare following cancer treatment and into survivorship.

My JCURA experience extended over a year and focused on the digital information needs of older adult cancer survivors. Specifically, those who are in the older adult age range as they navigate online resources, virtual appointments, and digital healthcare. Due to time constraints and the pandemic, a few challenges were faced in recruiting. At this time, we have completed a pilot interview. However, this interview yielded great insight into the strengths and challenges faced by this population. This project will show my journey through the JCURA process, as I join the new generation of cancer care nurse researchers, and highlights the knowledge gained to better informs my nursing practice as a new graduate, as well as cancer care for future patients.

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2023 Jan 1;33(1):177.

D-6. Implementing dementia-friendly care approach for cancer patients living with dementia

Shelley Canning 1

There is growing recognition that the number of cancer patients living with dementia is increasing. Within this small but growing area of scholarship, these patients have been found to experience poor outcomes. Patients living with cancer and dementia receive less cancer screening, staging, and curative treatment than patients without dementia, and they are typically diagnosed at later stage cancers with lower survival rates. The cancer journey is also difficult for their caregivers who play central roles in navigating care systems and communicating with the cancer care team. As dementia symptoms progress, both caregivers and care providers frequently wrestle with difficult ethical questions regarding decision-making. Although they are experts in cancer, care providers often lack confidence and knowledge regarding dementia-care.

Our research seeks to address the inequity of care outcomes for patients living with dementia and the challenges faced by their caregivers and care providers through adopting a dementia-friendly lens to cancer care. This three-year interdisciplinary study draws on a focused ethnography methodology underpinned by a person-centred philosophy. Phase one explores the cancer care experiences of patients living with dementia, their caregivers, and care providers at three local BC Cancer centres. Issues, challenges, and impediments to care emerging from this data inform the development, delivery, and evaluation of the impact of dementia awareness education for BC Cancer care providers in phase two of the study. Our goal is for knowledge generation to support the development of recommendations and educational resources to inform a dementia-friendly approach for cancer care practices, policies, and environments.

Articles from Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal are provided here courtesy of Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology

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