A Qualitative Study of Administrators' Awareness of Outpatient Cancer Nursing

Abstract

Objective: To clarify administrators' awareness of outpatient cancer nursing clinics.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews of six administrators overseeing outpatient cancer nursing clinics and performed a qualitative, inductive analysis.

Results and discussion: In this study, interviews with the administrators led to the identification of ten categories for outpatient cancer nursing clinics such as [the nurses' role in easing the concerns and worries of patients with cancer and their families], [challenges in training and securing outpatient cancer nursing clinic personnel], and [the influence of the passion and confidence of nurses on practice in outpatient cancer nursing clinics]. These interviews revealed that, in practice, outpatient cancer nursing is a useful skill for elucidating the real needs of patients and supporting their decision-making. Coordinated efforts and collaboration among human resources/disciplines may affect day-to-day outpatient cancer nursing clinics.

Conclusion: This study revealed that the development of assessment indices to substantiate the accomplishment of outpatient cancer nursing clinics and the training of personnel with a high level of practical skills are two challenges for the expansion of outpatient cancer nursing clinics.