[Patient education and breast cancer]. / Éducation thérapeutique et cancer du sein.

The therapeutic education program set up at the Institut Universitaire du Cancer (University Cancer Institute) in Toulouse accompanies the treatment pathway of breast cancer patients. It includes nine collective workshops. From work organization to application, professionals and patients are closely involved.

[Nurse telephone support at home during chemotherapy]. / Suivi téléphonique infirmier à domicile durant la chimiothérapie.

An innovative scheme has been operational since 2013 at the Institut Claudius Regaud in Toulouse, aimed at patients undergoing chemotherapy. After an initial consultation, patients receive regular telephone support at home from expert nurses between treatments. The scheme helps to improve patient management and reinforce the community-hospital link.

[Observational study of outpatient unit duration of stay depending on the route of administration (intravenous vs subcutaneous) for a targeted therapy]. / Étude observationnelle du temps passé en hôpital de jour selon la voie d'administration (intraveineuse vs sous-cutanée) d'une thérapie ciblée.

New routes of administration available for some targeted therapies, especially subcutaneous injections, have an impact not only on the patients' daycare experience, but also on the unit's organization. This observational study conducted on 48 voluntary patients at the Institut universitaire du cancer Toulouse-Oncopole shows that the mean duration of the outpatient unit stay is diminished by one hour when a subcutaneous injection is used instead of an intravenous route. This duration decrease is mainly caused by an 82% average reduction in treatment duration. However, the waiting times before and after the treatment itself are not significantly impacted. Organizational methods related to the treatment prescription and preparation remain indeed the same. Anticipated prescription is not noticeably impacted either. This reduction of the duration of stay will truly be obtained if the whole unit's organization is adapted.

[The role of the bed manager nurse in medical oncology]. / Le rôle de l'infirmière bed manager en oncologie médicale.

The organisation of unscheduled hospitalisations is a constant concern for hospitals, in particular in the absence of an emergency department. The bed manager's role is essential in this context. The medical oncology ward of a cancer unit has put in place such a system in order to optimise bed management and improve the quality of care.

[The patient pathway, an essential element of the care project]. / Le parcours du patient, indispensable au projet de soins.

Constructing an innovative care project in oncology, common to two healthcare institutions with different statuses, was a challenge for the directors of nursing of the Claudius-Regaud Institute and Toulouse university hospital. The patient care pathway was a major organisational element of the project, keyto ensuring high quality patient care, from the diagnosis through to the personalised post-cancer plan.

[Competency-based nursing training]. / L'approche par compétences dans la formation des infirmiers.

The application of the new nursing training reference framework requires the active participation of professionals in the field, notably with assessing students' skills during a work placement. The skills approach represents a paradigm shift for caregivers, one which requires reflection with regard to their activities, and the creation of tools suitable for constructive assessment. A task force within the Toulouse cancer unit has been created to reflect on and support the changes brought about by the reform.