Is there an Effective Delivery of Information in Cancer Patients Participating in Clinical Trials?

Abstract

Information is vital to ensure the delivery of effective, patient-centred and quality care. However, healthcare professionals especially those working in clinical trials setting face a lot of barriers that inhibit effective delivery of information. This is because the role of a Clinical Research Nurses (CRN) is slightly different from the traditional nursing role and the challenges these nurses face may be specific to this group. This papers amis to to analyse the role of information in the management of cancer and how it relates to effectiveness of care, and critically analyse the role of a CRNs and the barriers they face in effectively delivering information to patients participating in clinical trials. Literature search was carried out, looking that the role of information in delivery of quality care. Literature relating to role of information in influencing the patient’s experiences and the role of the Multi-Disciplinary Team in the delivery of information was reviewed. The review highlighted the importance of information delivery in impowering patients to self-manage not just the disease, but treatment related adverse events as well. The review also highlighted the importance of MDT collaboration to ensure that there is a wide range of expertise that will enable provision of comprehensive patient care and the challenges Clinical Research Nurses face in ensuring delivery of information. Information delivery is vital in ensuring quality care and measures should be put in place to ensure that this is achieved. Clinical research nurses play a vital role in facilitating the delivery of clinical trials and ensuring that patients receive effective patient care. However, the barriers they face in ensuring delivery of information which empowers patients are mainly due to the nature of their role.