Improving the Initial Breast Cancer Consultation.

Background: Research shows providing cancer patients with adequate information has many benefits, but how do nurse practitioners know whether the initial consultation meets the information needs of their patients? Furthermore, how can the initial consultation be improved?

Objective: A low-cost continuous quality improvement process centered on decreasing distress and increasing information satisfaction was piloted to determine its effectiveness and feasibility.

Methods: Immediately before and after an initial consultation with a breast cancer surgeon, 59 women completed a questionnaire to measure distress and specific problems they were having. They then completed a questionnaire to measure information satisfaction. Pre-post changes in the distress score and number of problems were analyzed, as was information satisfaction. Feasibility was qualitatively examined.

Results: For the study sample, pre-post median distress scores decreased significantly (from 5 to 3, Chi-square = 5.73, p < .017). Information dissatisfaction scales were identified. The process was deemed feasible.

Conclusions: This effective and feasible process may help the nurse practitioner continuously improve the initial consultation process.

Implications for nursing: (a) the initial breast cancer consultation is important, (b) a novel process for improving the initial breast cancer consultation is proposed, and (c) this feasible, low-cost process should be embedded into normal practice operations.