Evaluating the feasibility of a nurse-driven telephone triage intervention for patients with cancer in the ambulatory setting

OBJECTIVES: To explore the feasibility of a nurse-driven telephone triage intervention to improve the symptom experience of patients with cancer receiving treatment in the ambulatory setting. SAMPLE & SETTING: 90 patients in three ambulatory centers (breast, head and neck, and sarcoma) receiving active treatment at a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. METHODS & VARIABLES: Patients received 4-18 triage calls from a nurse during a period of as many as six months dependent on their diagnosis and treatment. Feasibility was defined as the completion of 70% of triage calls. Symptom experience was measured using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory. RESULTS: The overall call completion rate was 78%. Interference (p = 0.002) and severity (p < 0.001) scores were significantly different among patients in the three centers and gradually decreased over time. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Outcomes suggest that a telephone triage intervention is feasible to support patients receiving treatment. Future research can evaluate whether proactive triage affects symptom intensity during the course of the treatment trajectory.