Booklet helps to improve patient knowledge of totally implantable access ports

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

A well-designed booklet with attention to both scientific content and communication techniques is useful in improving patients' knowledge about totally implantable access ports (TIAPs) and reducing anxiety, according to a recent study published online ahead of print in the journal Supportive Care in Cancer.

It is recommended that patients are provided written information about TIAPs during the pre-implantation period to decrease anxiety and improve recall of information; however, no study has evaluated the effectiveness of information about TIAP given to patients.

For the study, researchers enrolled 105 patients with cancer who were getting TIAP implanted. Of those, 34 were randomly assigned to receive only an information booklet, 34 received the booklet with answers to clarification questions, and 37 received routine care.

Results showed that all three interventions provided resulted in a decrease in patients' anxiety immediately after TIAP implantation and at 3 months. Adding answers to clarification questions did not improve anxiety or patient knowledge.