Clinical pathway of metabolic therapy with 131I in differentiated thyroid cancer

Abstract

Clinical Pathways are care plans that are applied to clinical processes with a predictable course, with the intention of protocolizing these processes and reducing the variability in their management. Our objective was to develop a clinical pathway for 131I metabolic therapy in its application to differentiated thyroid cancer.A work team was organized consisting of doctors (Endocrinology and Nuclear Medicine), nursing staff (Hospitalization Unit and Nuclear Medicine), Radiophysics and the Clinical Management and Continuity of Care Support Service. For the design of the clinical pathway, several team meetings were held, in which the literature reviews were pooled and the design and development of the clinical pathway was undertaken in accordance with current clinical guidelines. This team achieved consensus on the development of the care plan, establishing its key points and drafting the different documents that make up the Clinical Pathway: Timeframe-based schedule, Clinical Pathway Variation Record Document, Patient Information Documents, Patient Satisfaction Survey, Pictogram Brochure, Quality Assessment Indicators. Finally, the clinical pathway was presented to all the clinical departments involved and to the Medical Director of the Hospital and is now being implemented in clinical practice.