ONS Receives Grant From AHRQ to Test New Strategies to Improve the Quality of Cancer Care

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

As cancer care is delivered more often in ambulatory settings or during very short hospital stays, the role of family members and other caregivers is becoming increasingly important in the care of patients with cancer. The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) has received a three-year grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to develop and examine innovative electronic communication methods to disseminate ONS’s research-based resources to healthcare providers to help improve the quality of patient care. The ONS Putting Evidence into Practice (PEP) program provides clinicians with synthesized research resources in 20 topic areas. These resources, which include “Caregiver Strain and Burden,” facilitate access to and use of evidence to improve patient- and caregiver-centered outcomes. Although these resources are available in various web-based formats and locations, availability of open-access resources alone does not cause individuals to use those resources.

“This AHRQ grant opportunity is perfect for us because of our extensive ONS PEP resources for patients with cancer as well as caregiver problems and challenges,” said principal investigator Gail Mallory, PhD, RN, NEA-BC. “It will enable us to test new strategies to improve the quality of cancer care for everyone impacted by cancer.”

The purpose of the grant, “Cancer Caregiver-Centered Outcomes Research—Dissemination to Clinicians  by the Oncology Nursing Society,” is to examine and evaluate the reach, effectiveness, and effect of a cancer caregiver-centered outcomes research electronic targeted messaging campaign delivered to ONS members. This project can directly affect the AHRQ’s mission to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of health care for all Americans by increasing the use of research in practice.

“ONS is very excited and proud to receive this grant,” said ONS CEO Paula Rieger, RN, MSN, CAE, FAAN. “The grant recognizes the contributions of nursing and nursing research to quality outcomes.”   

ONS is a professional association of more than 35,000 members committed to promoting excellence in oncology nursing and the transformation of cancer care. Since 1975, ONS has provided a professional community for oncology nurses, developed evidence-based education programs and treatment information, and advocated for patient care, all in an effort to improve quality of life and outcomes for patients with cancer and their families. Learn more at www.ons.org.

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