Knowledge Translation Tools for Cancer Symptom Management by Home Care Nurses

Abstract

Objective: To explore adult cancer symptom management by home care nurses. Scoping review: A scoping review was conducted to describe interventions used by nurses for cancer symptom management in the home care setting. Five included studies revealed that home care nursing contributed to positive client- and system-level outcomes. Study: A mixed-methods descriptive study explored usability of a set of 13 cancer treatment-related symptom management protocols for nurses in the home care setting. Thirty-eight nurses in home care participated. Qualitative and quantitative data indicated the protocols were highly usable. Several barriers suggested they would be better used as resources to support and train nurses rather than documentation tools. Conclusions: Few studies have evaluated interventions for cancer symptom management by home care nurses. This set of protocols was well-received, but further research is required to determine their effectiveness and interventions for implementing with home care nurses providing cancer symptom management.