Evaluating the Feasibility of a Nurse-Driven Telephone Triage Intervention for Patients With Cancer in the Ambulatory Setting.

Abstract

To explore the feasibility of a nurse-driven telephone triage intervention to improve the symptom experience of patients with cancer receiving treatment in the ambulatory setting. 90 patients in three ambulatory centers (breast, head and neck, and sarcoma) receiving active treatment at a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. Patients received 4-18 triage calls from a nurse during a period of as many as six months dependent on their diagnosis and treatment. Feasibility was defined as the completion of 70% of triage calls. Symptom experience was measured using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory. The overall call completion rate was 78%. Interference (p = 0.002) and severity (p < 0.001) scores were significantly different among patients in the three centers and gradually decreased over time. Outcomes suggest that a telephone triage intervention is feasible to support patients receiving treatment. Future research can evaluate whether proactive triage affects symptom intensity during the course of the treatment trajectory.