Implementing an evidence-based risk assessment tool to predict chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in women with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have documented the efficacy of prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in reducing rates of infections and risk of febrile neutropenia. An appropriate risk assessment model is pivotal to identify high-risk patients who would require granulocyte colony-stimulating factor prophylaxis. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of the study were to develop, implement, and evaluate a risk assessment model for neutropenic events in breast cancer patients who were receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy. METHODS: During the study period, neutropenia risk was assessed for breast cancer patients by using an innovative risk model before the first cycle of chemotherapy. A stepwise logistic regression model was performed to determine significant factors for the prediction. RESULTS: A total of 119 patients were evaluated for neutropenia risk between August 2010 and December 2010. Twenty-nine percent (35/119) of the patients have experienced at least 1 neutropenic event during the initial 3 cycles of chemotherapy. Based on the logistic regression model, only the risk score was retained as the significant predictor; the probability of an individual patient developing neutropenic events increased 1.24 times by increasing 1 score number (odds ratio, 1.24; with 95% confidence interval, 1.063-1.457). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the examination of different cutoff points, the performance of the risk model is best when the risk threshold is set at 6, which was found to have a sensitivity of 0.49 and a specificity of 0.69; the misclassification rate was 0.37, with a positive predictive value of 0.40 and a negative predictive value of 0.76. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The results of this project support incorporating the discussed risk assessment model into routine nursing assessments to prevent neutropenic complications.

Using a computer-based risk assessment tool to identify risk for chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia.

This article evaluates the feasibility of developing and implementing a computer-based risk assessment tool (CBRAT) for febrile neutropenia and determines whether it could improve documentation of risk assessment in patients starting myelosuppressive chemotherapy regimens. The CBRAT was designed using a template creator in a commercial electronic medical records system. The effectiveness of the CBRAT was evaluated by comparing medical records data of patients with one or more risk factor for febrile neutropenia who were given prophylactic granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor before and after implementation. CBRAT usage significantly increased the likelihood of documented febrile neutropenia risk assessment from 13% before implementation to 100% after implementation (p < 0.001). No significant changes occurred in febrile neutropenia incidence rates, dose reductions, or dose delays. In addition, healthcare providers quickly learned how to operate the CBRAT and used it routinely, significantly improving the number of patients with documented febrile neutropenia risk assessment. Implementation of a computer-based tool can help nurses follow evidence-based guidelines that recommend routine febrile neutropenia risk assessment for patients initiating myelosuppressive chemotherapy.

Assessment of neutropenia-related quality of life in a clinical setting.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To examine how neutropenia affects quality of life (QOL) and explore strategies to assess neutropenia-related QOL in clinical practice. DATA SOURCES: Published articles, abstracts, conference proceedings, and clinical practice guidelines. DATA SYNTHESIS: Neutropenia can have a detrimental effect on the QOL of patients receiving chemotherapy. A neutropenia-related QOL questionnaire can help nurses better identify patients at risk for developing neutropenia and monitor patients who already have it. In some cases, the questionnaire may be the first step in the initiation of interventions to improve patient care. Ideally, the QOL questionnaire should be easy to use, provide clinically meaningful information, and be easily adapted from existing QOL measurement tools. CONCLUSIONS: Effective implementation of QOL assessments into clinical practice can lead to the initiation of interventions that may improve neutropenia-related QOL in patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nurses can enhance their clinical judgment and affect patient treatment by implementing a questionnaire that assesses patients' neutropenia-related QOL.

Optimal use of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor in patients with cancer who are at risk for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To provide an overview of the risks for and occurrence of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in patients with cancer and its optimal prophylactic management with recombinant human granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). DATA SOURCES: Original research, review articles, conference presentations, and published guidelines. DATA SYNTHESIS: Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia is a common serious adverse event, and the risks for it can be predicted on the basis of patient characteristics and the chemotherapy regimen. CONCLUSIONS: Optimal, cost-effective prophylactic management of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia with G-CSF requires the assessment of patient factors and the myelotoxicity of the chemotherapy regimen. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Neutropenia and its complications can be serious adverse events in patients who are treated with chemotherapy. Nurses should be familiar with how to identify patients who are at risk for neutropenia and its complications and should be prepared to discuss the need for first-cycle use of G-CSF with the other members of the treatment team as necessary.

[Isolation ward: initial experiences after 4 years]. / Isolierstation: erste Erfahrung nach 4 Jahren.

UNLABELLED: Since October 1988 there has been an isolation ward at Basle Cantonal Hospital. Its purpose is to treat patients with high dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation under protective isolation and by standardized criteria. The isolation ward has two sub-units, viz. the reverse isolation for neutropenic patients (8 single room units) and the LAF unit (5 laminar airflow units) for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Up to July 1992, 287 patients (152 males and 133 females) required 527 hospitalizations. The median age was 41 (5-82) years in the reverse isolation unit and 28 (4-61) years in the LAF unit. Bed occupation was 90% and 82% throughout the period. 71% of patients were from the Basle area and the rest from elsewhere in Switzerland or from other countries. DIAGNOSIS: acute leukemias (112); myelodysplastic or myeloproliferative syndromes (52); severe aplastic anemia or agranulocytosis (46); lymphoproliferative syndromes (50); solid tumors (28). Indications for hospitalisation: BMT (107); complications after BMT (infections, GvHD) (63); chemotherapy on protocols of SAKK (105); other chemotherapies (64); antilymphocyte globulin or growth factor treatment (27); splenectomies (18); neutropenic fever (62); patient work-up (59); terminal care (20). Patients in reverse isolation were hospitalized for a median 17 (1-142) days; in the LAF unit for 52 (1-121) days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)