Implementation Study of a Nurse-led Early Professional Palliative Care Program for Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to introduce a nurse-led specialized palliative care program early on for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer within 8 weeks of diagnosis, and to evaluate the feasibility and exploratory study of the intervention effects. Methods: A nurse-led specialized palliative care program was introduced for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, and the appropriateness and acceptability of the program were evaluated through a questionnaire survey of nurses and interviews with doctors and nurses. The effects of the intervention were evaluated through a questionnaire survey on changes in patients’ quality of life (QOL) and the quality of palliative care. Results: The program was implemented on 12 patients and evaluated by 28 nurses and 2 doctors. The median acceptability of nurses in one ward decreased 9 months after the program compared to 1 month after the program started. The median patient QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General: FACT-G) score increased 1 month after the program (71.05 points) compared to the start of the program (62 points), and then decreased 3 months later (65 points). Survey results at the end of the program showed high patient satisfaction and little sense of burden. Conclusion: Ensuring program continuity and expanding the target population are future challenges.