Authors (including presenting author) :
LEUNG MF, FUNG YL, CHOW CM, CHOW MY, LI CMJ, NG TY, TIN WY, LAW WK, WONG MC
Affiliation :
Department of Clinical Oncology, Tuen Mun Hospital, New Territories West Cluster
Introduction :
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. According to Hong Kong Cancer Registry, the number of new cases was 3508 in year 2012. However, there were 4373 new cases in year 2017. It was about 5% increasing rate yearly. In our Centre, there were 584 and 619 new cases in year 2017 and 2018 respectively. Due to the increased in service demand, 51 new nursing staff joined in our department in the past two years. Therefore, a department handbook for nurses – Breast Cancer was established to enhance their knowledge and competency in caring of breast cancer patients.
Objectives :
1. To provide a fundamental Oncology knowledge related to breast cancer to the new nursing staff.
2. To enhance new nursing staff in building up confidence and competence in their working place.
3. To ensure quality care delivered to breast cancer patients during the oncological interventions.
Methodology :
A review of various literatures and departmental guidelines was conducted to obtain the updated oncological information related to breast cancer.
The contents of Handbook include: introduction, staging, investigations, treatments, treatment related side effects and nursing interventions.
The handbook was distributed to nursing staff who has less than two years working experience in our department.
Two identical sharing sessions were hold to introduce the project and the use of Handbook.
Evaluation sheets were collected to review the outcome.
Result & Outcome :
Total 51 handbooks with evaluation forms were delivered to new nursing staff in our department. 50 evaluation sheets were collected by 9th Jan 2020. 94% of respondents agreed the layout and chapters arranged of the handbook. 86% of new comers responded the handbook would be a useful resource in preparing nurses to meet the basic clinical oncology requirement. 84% of respondents were looking forward to having new handbook with other cancer diseases, in which 43% suggested to establish lung cancer as the next topic of the handbook.
Strong positive feedback achieved in the project. The handbook provides fundamental Oncology knowledge related to breast cancer to our new nursing staff. It facilitates their working competency, and enhances quality care delivered to breast cancer patients in our department. There would be further development in department handbook for nurses in the future.
