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Complementary and alternative therapy use in a regional radiation oncology treatment centre: Can staff knowledge, views, confidence and documentation be improved?
Author(s) -
Delaney Lisa J.,
Manley Stephen J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of medical radiation sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.484
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 2051-3909
pISSN - 2051-3895
DOI - 10.1002/jmrs.344
Subject(s) - documentation , audit , medicine , intervention (counseling) , confidence interval , family medicine , baseline (sea) , physical therapy , emergency medicine , nursing , management , computer science , economics , programming language , oceanography , geology
Complementary and alternative therapies (CATs) are widely used by cancer patients but are infrequently disclosed and documented. This study aimed to improve radiation therapy staff knowledge, confidence, views and documentation of radiation oncology patients' use of CATs. Method Participants completed a baseline questionnaire regarding their knowledge, confidence, views and documentation relating to patients' CAT use. An intervention was undertaken whereby participants attended an educational session and a CAT screening tool was implemented simultaneously. Participants immediately completed a post‐intervention questionnaire and later a 6‐month follow‐up questionnaire. A patient record audit was conducted to measure the documentation of CAT use pre‐ and post‐intervention. Results From baseline to post‐intervention, there was a statistically significant shift in staff knowledge and confidence ( P  =   0.001–0.01). The observed shift was sustained over a 6‐month period, ( P  =   0.453–1.00). Participants' perceived views of CATs did not change as a result of the intervention ( P  =   0.261–1.000). The post‐intervention audit compared to the baseline audit yielded a statistically significant increase in documentation. There was an increase in CAT use mentioned in patient records from 14% (15/108) to 40% (35/88) ( P  <   0.001). Conclusions The implementation of a screening tool and staff education increased radiation therapy staff knowledge of CATs and increased staff confidence when discussing CAT use with patients. Documentation of CATs in the patient record increased post‐intervention. These changes positively affected radiation therapy staff understanding the use of CATs by cancer patients.

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