The introduction of critical paths for acute myeloid leukemia

Making critical paths with patients and these effects

Abstract

It has been very difficult to introduce the critical path for the patient of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), because they generally need long term chemotherapy and individualized courses. To introduce the critical path for AML, we made five critical paths for medical staffs to standardize the care for patients and to prevent medical accidents.
In this study we made the critical path which was acceptable for the patients. Six AML patients cooperated to prepare the path. We asked them several questions to make use of their opinions and wishes. And we made 1) the graph expressing the effect of therapy, we called “rabbit stairs” 2) the menu of chemotherapeutics of each day and 3) the pamphlet explaining the therapeutic protocol.
Especially in this path, the AML patients and their family can examine their own bone marrow smears with their doctor, and they can discuss their chemotherapy.