Question: What were the needs of outpatients for symptom management?
Method: A multidisciplinary team assembled to determine the need for a symptom management
clinic. Two surveys were developed for potential users: one for the outpatients and
the other for the attending oncologists.
Intervention: During a 3-week period, outpatients were approached after registering for the
oncology clinic and while waiting for their appointment. Ninety-five percent of the outpatients
approached completed the survey.
Findings: A total of 112 surveys revealed that outpatients would attend a symptom management
clinic for relief of pain (50%), fatigue (40%), nausea/vomiting (30%), and/or sleeping
difficulty (30%). A total of 16 surveys completed by oncologists revealed that outpatients could
use more assistance with pain (81%), diet (75%), depression (69%), and/or fatigue (56%). Outpatients
felt they would benefit from meeting with a nurse (35%), social worker (21%), dietician
(18%), and/or pharmacist (18%). While oncologists thought that the following would complement
care: dietician (69%), psychologist (69%), nurse (56%), and/or social worker (56%).
Fifty–one percent of the outpatients indicated that they would attend a symptom management
clinic and all but one oncologist would refer to this clinic.
Discussion: While there exists some disconnect between perceived need for symptom management
between outpatient and oncologist, it is evident that pain is the symptom of primary
concern. An interdisciplinary team of oncologist, nurse, social worker, dietician, pharmacist,
and psychologist could collaboratively address the presenting symptoms. Users, both outpatients
and oncologists perceive benefit from a collaborative and interdisciplinary symptom
management clinic.
