2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer (Posters)-EP15.01. Can Nurses Successfully Do Patient Advocacy : Need in Resource Poor Settings

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The study conducted by S. Pal and T. Roy from the Society for Healthcare and Prevention in Meerut, India focuses on the role of nurses in patient advocacy for lung cancer patients. The aim of the study was to highlight the importance of patient advocacy in resource poor settings, where it is often neglected due to limited healthcare budgets. The researchers also wanted to investigate the impact of education provided by nurses on patients' self-image and their relationship with the social environment.<br /><br />A total of 82 lung cancer patients (60 men and 22 women) were included in the analysis, along with 8 nurses who were trained in patient advocacy. The patients and their relatives answered questionnaires assessing their self-image as lung cancer patients and their relationship with the nurses. The results showed that cancer advocacy and education significantly improved the self-image of the lung cancer patients compared to the control group, but there was no significant difference in their social relationships.<br /><br />The researchers point out that lung cancer patients returning to rural areas of India after receiving treatment in city hospitals particularly need assistance and education. They suggest that community NGOs can play a key role in providing cancer care and education to patients and their families.<br /><br />The study concludes that nurses are essential in establishing a self-management approach for patients, where they learn about their rights, change their environment, and plan their future. The researchers emphasize the need for more resources to support nurses in becoming patient advocates and for the whole society to provide more resources for patient advocacy.<br /><br />The authors of the study acknowledge the limitations of their research due to resource constraints and suggest further studies to be conducted in collaboration with other institutions. They believe that this low-cost approach can greatly improve care outcomes in resource-constrained settings. The study ends with a call for a bigger platform to advocate for this burning issue and to evolve new approaches to support lung cancer patients.

Asset Subtitle

S Pal

Meta Tag

Speaker S Pal

Topic Multidisciplinary Care: Nursing & Allied Health

Keywords

study

nurses

patient advocacy

lung cancer patients

education

self-image

social relationships

rural areas

resources

care outcomes