Author
  • 1
Organisation
  • St George Hospital1
Year

1998

Excerpt

In 1996 an audit was undertaken within the Division of Cancer Services to establish how much written information was available for the purpose of patient education. The audit revealed that limited information was available, a disparity existed in how patients were educated and the level of written information they received. In order to standardise the information provided to patients, a working party was formed to identify goals, objectives and implement standards.

A patient information folder was developed which contains a selection of generic information leaflets. When nursing staff educate new patients, specific disease and chemotherapy information is added, therefore each patient receives a tailor made information folder. A brainstorming session between HODC staff elicited many suggestions for other educational tools. From this, the concept of a patient information board evolved, with the information topic being changed monthly. Six topics would be developed to cover a six-month period.

An ongoing increase in demand for specialist services provided by HODC led staff to identify specific deficits in the amount of written information being provided for some services. Consequently brochures on Therapeutic Plasma Exchange and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant were developed.

The original working party now intends to run focus groups and surveys to accurately assess the benefits and use of information packages. Telephone follow-up will be conducted to review the content. For Non- English Speaking Background (NESB) patients, focus groups will help establish which brochures and information leaflets should be translated.

Work in progress includes the development of chemotherapy leaflets and an HODC brochure. There has been a vast improvement in the quality and range of information available for patients attending HODC. Additionally uniformity has been achieved and an exceptionally high standard of patient education continues.