Patient Experiences Before and After the Implementation of Advanced Nursing Practice for Head and Neck Cancer

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer and its treatments often lead to symptoms that affect patients' and family members' quality of life (QOL). To meet their needs, an advanced nursing practice program was implemented in a Swiss hospital. OBJECTIVES: The impacts of the program on QOL, anxiety, depression, and satisfaction with outpatient care were evaluated in patients undergoing complex oncologic head and neck surgery. Anxiety, depression, and satisfaction with outpatient care were evaluated in family members. METHODS: Sequential retrospective surveys of patients and family members in control and intervention groups were conducted in a single-center tertiary hospital. FINDINGS: The control group had 29 patients and 20 family members, and the intervention group had 30 patients and 17 family members. Although QOL did not differ significantly between patient groups, patients in the intervention group indicated less anxiety and greater satisfaction with outpatient care. Anxiety, depression, and satisfaction with outpatient care did not differ significantly in family members.