Abstract
6574 Background: Patients about to begin chemotherapy often have questions about their treatment along with significant anxiety. This study evaluated whether pre-chemotherapy teaching sessions improved patient knowledge and anxiety. Methods: After meeting with their oncologist to discuss planned chemotherapy treatment, subjects completed a 10-question survey which assessed their knowledge of anticipated side effects and treatment schedule on a 1-4 rating scale (1=no knowledge, 2=minimally informed, 3=reasonably informed, 4=well informed) as well as anxiety about initiating chemotherapy (1=no anxiety, 2=minimal anxiety, 3=moderate anxiety, 4=severe anxiety). Subjects then completed a structured nurse-led chemotherapy education session. The survey was repeated on the first day of cycle 1. Mantel-Haentzel Chi-square tests were used to evaluate for changes across the surveys. Subgroup analysis by Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to assess differences in anxiety based on age. Results: At the time of analysis, 142 subjects had completed the education session. Improvement was seen in knowledge of treatment schedule (mean score increase from 2.5 to 3.4, p<0.001), side effects (mean score increase from 2.3 to 3.4, p<0.001), and how to use medications designed to prevent and treat nausea (mean score increase from 1.8 to 3.2, p<0.001). There was significant reduction in patient anxiety about starting treatment (mean score decrease from 2.3 to 2, p<0.001) and anxiety related to treatment side effects (mean score decrease from 2.3 to 2, p<0.001). Analysis of anxiety by age showed that those age <65 had higher baseline anxiety scores with a reduction in anxiety after the education session while those age ≥65 had lower baseline anxiety scores with a rise in anxiety after the education session (Table). Conclusions: A pre-chemotherapy teaching session improves patient knowledge about the planned treatment along with reduction in anxiety. Change in anxiety differs between patients 65 years of age and older as compared to those less than 65. [Table: see text]
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
