Abstract
Purpose：The purpose of this study was to determine nursing practices that outpatient nurses evaluate as important for supporting outpatients with cancer such that the patients can demonstrate their independence and be themselves. Methods：An 86-item questionnaire on outpatient nursing practices, specifically referring to the nursing practices for supporting outpatients with cancer such that the patients can demonstrate their independence and be themselves, was conducted on 1130 outpatient nurses at a designated cancer hospital. The nurses were asked to what extent such practices are important and to what degree they are performing them. Results：The valid response rate was 78.6% （n＝598）. The 86-items on outpatient nursing practices were evaluated by outpatients nurses as “important” for supporting outpatients with cancer such that the patients can demonstrate their independence and be themselves. Results of exploratory factor analysis showed that the nursing practices that the outpatient nurses viewed as important comprised the following five elements：1）Providing support for patients to acquire skills to resolve problems and encouraging the patient’s positive attitude towards living with cancer；2）Ascertaining the patient’s thoughts and feelings and understanding them as they are；3）Providing support through multi-disciplinary collaboration and showing the attitude and knowledge of fulfilling nursing duties；4）Providing support to obtain information from physicians during outpatient visits；and 5）Explaining possible side effects and how to deal with them at home. Regarding the extent of performing these five elements, the study participants rated them as “Not necessarily not performing them, but not exactly performing them either.” Discussion：In order to support outpatients with cancer such that they can demonstrate independence and be themselves, it is necessary to develop an educational program that cultivates the ability to accurately perform these five nursing practice elements.
