The Role of Oncology Nurses in Discussing Clinical Trials

• Published in: Oncology nursing forum Vol. 44; no. 5; pp. 547 - 552
• Main Authors: Flocke, Susan A, Antognoli, Elizabeth, Daly, Barbara J, Jackson, Brigid, Fulton, Sarah E, Liu, Tasnuva M, Surdam, Jessica, Manne, Sharon, Meropol, Neal J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oncology Nursing Society 01.09.2017
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis; Attitude of Health Personnel; Attitudes; Cancer; Caregivers; Clinical decision making; Clinical trials; Clinical Trials as Topic - psychology; Communication; Core curriculum; Decision making; Education; Ethnomethodology; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - nursing; Nurse practitioners; Nurse's Role - psychology; Nurse-Patient Relations; Nurses; Nursing; Nursing Staff, Hospital - psychology; Oncology; Oncology Nursing - methods; Participation; Patients; Practice; Qualitative Research; Roles; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; United States > US; cancer; clinical trials; communication; research
• ISSN: 0190-535X; 1538-0688
• DOI: 10.1188/17.ONF.547-552

To describe oncology nurses' experiences discussing clinical trials with their patients, and to assess barriers to these discussions.
. A qualitative study designed to elicit narratives from oncology nurses. 
. Community- and academic-based oncology clinics throughout the United States.
. 33 oncology nurses involved in direct patient care in community-based and large hospital-based settings. The sample was drawn from members of the Oncology Nursing Society. 
. In-depth interviews were conducted and analyzed using a 
immersion/crystallization approach to identify themes and patterns. The analyses highlight specific issues, examples, and contexts that present challenges to clinical trial discussions with patients.
. Oncology nurses view their roles as patient educators and advocates to be inclusive of discussion of clinical trials. Barriers to such discussions include lack of knowledge and strategies for addressing patients' common misconceptions and uncertainty about the timing of discussions.
. These data indicate that enabling nurses to actively engage patients in discussions of clinical trials requires educational interventions to build self-efficacy and close knowledge gaps. 
. Oncology nurses can play a critical role in advancing cancer care by supporting patients in decision making about clinical trial participation. This will require training and education to build their knowledge, reduce barriers, and increase their self-efficacy to fulfill this responsibility in various clinical settings.