Current Status of Outpatient Nurses’ Support for the Psychological Concerns of Outpatients with Cancer

– A Cross-sectional Study using an Internet Survey –

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the status of nurses’ support for outpatient cancer patients’ psychological concerns and related factors/issues. A survey was distributed among 804 outpatient nurses at 402 cancer care hospitals nationwide (as of April 2020). An analysis was conducted utilizing variables related to the characteristics of participants, departments, and hospitals as well as the status of support for cancer patients’ psychological concerns. Of the 212 individuals who responded, 201 (response rate: 25%) were included in the analysis. Approximately 68% of the outpatient nurses reported providing support to cancer patients with psychological concerns. Several respondents, however, indicated that there was ‘insufficient time’ to address their patients’ problems.