Introduction
While the majority of studies aimed at improving the quality of medical services provided for patients with cancer have examined the standard procedures of oncology care, they did not consider the importance of early referrals (Hausner et al., 2021). This paper addressed this gap by confirming the benefits of outpatient palliative care in this case compared to late visits to healthcare facilities. Moreover, it presents a number of factors, which relate to demographics and services to underpin the conclusions.
Purpose and Theoretical Framework
The purpose of this study was to prove the connection between early referrals to hospitals for patients with cancer and the possibility of a positive outcome of treatment for them. The eleven scholars hypothesized that there is a clear connection between the above circumstances, which improves the quality of life for the affected persons (Hausner et al., 2021). They did not explicitly state the adopted theoretical framework for the examination of the determined issue, but it can be formulated as per the humanistic model. This approach was developed by Josephine Paterson and Loretta Zderad and implied the principal role of nurses in the process (“Humanistic model,” n.d.). More specifically, the framework created by Jean Watson, which is known as a theory of human caring, is suitable for the case (“Humanistic model,” n.d.). Its selection is explained by the fact that the practice of early referrals complies with the attention to the interactions of patients with healthcare workers.
Methodology
Hausner et al. (2021) conducted a statistical analysis of pre- and post-evidence cohorts of patients with cancer selected from the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. They were compared with the use of several instruments for this purpose, which are ” Fisher’s exact tests, t tests, and log-rank tests” (Hausner et al., 2021, p. 335). The data gathered in the course of the study was both of qualitative and quantitative nature. The former was reflected by descriptive statistics turned into numerals, and the latter included “tumor site, oncologist specialty, and oncologist sex” (Hausner et al., 2021, p. 335). Other tools were ESAS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System) scores, the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, and the Holm-Bonferroni method, which allows concluding on the prevalence of symptoms in participants (Hausner et al., 2021). Thus, the study incorporates various data for receiving precise results.
Major Findings/Conclusions
The findings confirmed the hypothesis and, therefore, justified the necessity of early referrals for patients with cancer. According to them, out of 337 patients (initially 407, some patients were excluded due to the lack of evidence) in the pre-evidence cohort, 63 were reported to be alive in a year (Hausner et al., 2021). The post-evidence group contained 415 patients, and the medical and demographic characteristics did not play any significant role in their outcomes (Hausner et al., 2021). The confirmed difference was the increase in the number of female oncologists in palliative care and the decrease in the percentage of people requiring measures for managing pain and other symptoms (Hausner et al., 2021). In general, the improvements were recorded in terms of timing of referrals, whereas the worsening was related to tiredness.
Evaluation
The article’s findings are related to the PICO question since they show the options for improving the care for patients with cancer. Hence, it would be beneficial for positively affecting the treatment outcomes by incorporating the above elements. The strengths of this research and its presentation are connected to the inclusion of various types of data alongside numerous demographic and medical characteristics for precision. In turn, the weaknesses include the ambiguity of recommendations since it is unclear how the results from one facility can be applied to other clinics. Therefore, further research is required for the successful implementation of changes in the hospital setting.
References
Hausner, D., Tricou, C., Mathews, J., Wadhwa, D., Pope, A., Swami, N., Hannon, B., Rodin, G., Krzyzanowska, M. K., Le., L. W., & Zimmermann, C. (2021). Timing of palliative care referral before and after evidence from trials supporting early palliative care. The Oncologist, 26(4), 332-340.
Humanistic model. (n.d.). Nursing Theory.