Abstract
BackgroundSpecialist nurses may play an important role in helping to improve the experiences of patients with prostate cancer, however there is concern that the specialist nurse role is under threat in the UK due to financial pressures in the NHS. This study explored the role and value of specialist nurses in prostate cancer care via a survey and patient interviews.MethodsThis paper reports findings from two studies. A survey of patients from three hospitals across the UK (289/481, 60%), investigated whether patients who saw a specialist nurse had different experiences of information provision and involvement in decision-making, to those who did not. Qualitative interviews were also carried out with 35 men recently tested or treated for prostate cancer, recruited from two hospitals in the UK. Interviews explored patients' views on the role and value of the specialist nurse.ResultsSurvey findings indicated that patients who saw a specialist nurse had more positive experiences of receiving written information about tests and treatment, and about sources of advice and support, and were more likely to say they made the treatment decision themselves. In interviews, patients described specialist nurse input in their care in terms of providing information and support immediately post-diagnosis, as well as being involved in ongoing care. Two key aspects of the specialist nurse role were seen as unique: their availability to the patient, and their ability to liaise between the patient and the medical system.ConclusionThis study indicates the unique role that specialist nurses play in the experience of patients with prostate cancer, and highlights the importance of maintaining specialist nurse roles in prostate cancer care.
Highlights
Specialist nurses may play an important role in helping to improve the experiences of patients with prostate cancer, there is concern that the specialist nurse role is under threat in the UK due to financial pressures in the NHS
The care that cancer patients in the UK receive has been under scrutiny, and patients with prostate cancer have been found to report less positive experiences of care than patients with other types of cancer
The NICE Improving Outcomes Guidance on urological cancers emphasised the importance of specialist nurses in prostate cancer care [6], prostate cancer patients have lower levels of access to specialist nurses than do patients with other types of cancer [1]
Summary
Specialist nurses may play an important role in helping to improve the experiences of patients with prostate cancer, there is concern that the specialist nurse role is under threat in the UK due to financial pressures in the NHS. Patients with prostate cancer are less likely to have the opportunity to discuss side effects of treatment, to understand how well their treatment has gone, or to get information about support and self help groups, than patients with other types of cancer [1]. The role of the specialist nurse in prostate cancer care can be varied, but is primarily focused on the provision of information and support to patients [2]. Specialist nurse involvement may help to improve the experiences of patients with prostate cancer, and may be associated with positive outcomes [3,4,5]. Richardson [12] has identified that patients with prostate cancer are more likely to report unmet needs if they do not see a specialist nurse
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