Outcomes Resource Area

Oncology nursing practice delivers high quality oncology patient care by impacting patient outcomes through evidence-based interventions. The ONS Outcomes Resource Area (ORA) provides information for both the nurse providing direct patient care and the nurse who is looking for research evidence regarding outcomes. The resource area can be used in conjunction with the Evidence-Based Practice Resource Area (EBPRA), which is focused on the process and resources for evidence-based practice.

The ONS Outcomes Resource Area includes a section on Nursing-Sensitive Patient Outcomes that provides detailed information on measuring outcomes specific to oncology patients, e.g., pain, nausea, and vomiting, peripheral neuropathies, and mucositis. Within each outcome, the user will find definitions, an overview of how to measure the outcome, and tables of instruments recommended for measurement. Additional resources related to measurement of the outcome are also available. All of this material is now available in a single book published by ONS, Putting evidence into practice: Improving oncology patient outcomes. This new reference provides levels of evidence for interventions in topic areas, measurement tools, case study examples and additional information on assessment and measurement. The book can be ordered online, further information can be obtained from customer.service@ons.org, or a sample chapter on fatigue can be downloaded.

A major portion of the Outcomes Resource Area (ORA) is devoted to ONS Putting Evidence into Practice (PEP) resources. This area provides evidence regarding interventions for nursing-sensitive patient outcomes in tables outlining levels of evidence, findings from synthesized reviews or meta-analysis, summary of relevant guidelines, definitions, and extensive reference lists.  All resources on the ORA can be printed from PDF files. To access this information, please select an outcome topic from the dropdown below:

Choose an ONS PEP topic Anorexia Anxiety Caregiver Strain and Burden Constipation Depression Diarrhea Dyspnea Fatigue Lymphedema Mucositis Nausea & Vomiting Pain Peripheral Neuropathy Prevention of Bleeding Prevention of Infection Sleep/Wake Disturbances

We hope the ONS Outcomes Resource Area will be helpful to you, your colleagues, and your patients.

The ONS PEP Resources are a result of a project initiated by the ONS Steering Council and the ONS Strategic Plan.