Author of

• 12853

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  P3.24 - Poster Session 3 - Supportive Care (ID 160)

  • Event: WCLC 2013
  • Type: Poster Session
  • Track: Supportive Care
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:
  • Coordinates: 10/30/2013, 09:30 - 16:30, Exhibit Hall, Ground Level

  • 12880

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    P3.24-027 - The Effectiveness of an Outpatient Interdisciplinary Team in Reducing Distress in Patients with Lung Cancer & Mesothelioma (ID 1714)

    09:30 - 09:30  |  Author(s): S. Witko
    • Abstract

    Background
    Lung cancer patients have been shown to have some of the highest level of unmet psychological, physical and daily living needs. Despite this, patients have limited access to the interdisciplinary team in the outpatient setting. Current best practice indicates that an interdisciplinary team can better meet the needs of patients through a collaborative approach to treatment, planning, supportive care and preserving current function Specifically at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, patients have limited access to interdisciplinary team members in an outpatient setting. This has resulted in the concept of the Lung INterdisciplinary Clinic (LINC) where patients will be routinely assessed and provided with appropriate interventions aimed at reducing their distress and increasing or maintaining their function. Health professionals included in the LINC clinic include a nurse, social worker, occupational therapist, physiotherapist & dietician.

    Methods
    This is a prospective cross sectional study of lung cancer and mesothelioma patients carried out between April 2013 and September 2013. Participants will be recruited to the study via the Lung multi-disciplinary team meeting (MDT), those referred directly from any outpatient clinic or self-referred. Participants under 18, have a cognitive impairment or NESB will be exluded. Initial Screen: Participants will complete the Distress Thermometer (DT), rating their overall distress on a scale of 0 to 10 and identifying items on a list that cause them distress. Referral pathway and intervention delivery: Based on the problem items selected by the patient, a referral will be made to the appropriate health professional to receive intervention to address the problem. The timeframe for when the intervention will be provided is dictated by the distress the problem causes the patient –see belowFigure 1 Evaluation of service: Following intervention by the required health professional(s), the patient will be contacted by phone and the DT will again be administered. A qualitative questionnaire will also be administered at this time.

    Results
    not available at this point

    Conclusion
    This project has significant benefits to the patient, the health service and the wider community. The study plans to provide a new and improved method of interdisciplinary service delivery to an underserviced population. At present there is no literature related to the significance of interventions completed in an outpatient setting aimed at reducing distress and concerns in lung cancer/mesothelioma patients. Therefore this research will aim to expand the current body of literature related to this population.