Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Patients with Cancer

Background: This quality improvement project examined the effect an educational intervention focused on the psychosocial needs of cancer patients had on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KAB) of a group of nurses. While nurses understand the physical toll of cancer, they may forget the impact cancer has on mental health. The project was guided by the Health Belief Model. Methods: Consent was obtained from 15 participants working as nurse advocates for a large insurance company. Nurse advocates are tasked with improving the health of patients and connecting them to additional resources. A twenty-minute educational intervention focused on the impact cancer has on mental health and the benefit of multiple psychosocial supportive resources was delivered to the participants. Education included a comprehensive review of the resources available for cancer patients at the project site. Participants were then given 10 minutes to complete a retrospective post-then-pre survey, based on a Likert Scale. Results: Statistically significant improvements in survey scores were observed in each of the three KAB domains. Statistical analysis confirmed improvements in survey scores were significant and not likely due to random variation. Participants also referred more patients into a cancer support program following the intervention. Conclusion: A brief educational intervention was able to improve KAB scores among nurses. There was also an increase in the number of patients these nurses referred into a psychosocial supportive program. Nurses that better understand the mental health needs of cancer patients are more likely to connect them with psychosocial resources. This intervention will become part of standard training for new nurse advocates at the project site.