Deshler, A.M., Fee-Schroeder, K.C., Dowdy, J.L., Mettler, T.A., Novotny, P., Zhao, X., et al. (2006). A patient orientation program at a comprehensive cancer center. Oncology Nursing Forum, 33, 569–578.

The intervention was a 12-minute cancer orientation program video and an orientation booklet. The video provided an overview of the cancer center, a welcome statement, an introduction to the clinic’s philosophy of care, locations of treatment centers, and identified staff members. The orientation booklet provided more detail and information about various resources and services:

• Welcome statement
• Clinic philosophy
• Introduction to the cancer care center
• What is cancer
• Preparing for your visit
• Cancer center resources and services
• Clinical trials
• Frequently asked questions
• Summary
• Glossary of cancer terms
• Telephone numbers

Measurements done at baseline included questionnaires regarding awareness of cancer resources and services, demographic information, and state and trait anxiety. Postintervention questionnaires three weeks later measured awareness, use of and satisfaction with services and resources, and state and trait anxiety. Before their first MD appointment, patients were consented and randomized to one of four arms:

• Arm 1: Class—A facilitator showed the video and provided the booklet in class (n = 6).
• Arm 2: Drop-in—Patients were invited to view the video at their convenience and pick up a booklet, without staff teaching (n = 7).
• Arm 3: Mailed home—An orientation package containing the video and booklet was mailed to patients’ homes, without staff teaching (n = 23).
• Arm 4: Control group—An invitation was mailed with preintervention questionnaires and instructions. No video or booklet was provided. Information provided to patients and caregivers was part of routine care (n = 18).

• The study reported on a sample of 54 newly diagnosed patients with cancer and their caregivers.
• Patients were receiving care at a medical oncology clinic.
• Most participants were Caucasian, male, and married.
• Patients had a variety of cancer types; 30% had lung cancers.

Medical oncology clinic

A randomized controlled trial design was used.

• Profile of Mood States (POMS)
• State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
• Three tools created by the authors and pilot tested: (a) Awareness and Use of Resources, (b) Coping, and (c) Understanding of the Cancer Center
• T test and Fisher exact tests
• 10% difference to determine clinical significance

• The class arm and drop-in arm had less than 10 participants, and their results were not reported.
• Analyses of effect size (partial eta squared) were conducted to further determine the magnitude of associations rather than only relying on null hypothesis significance testing.
• Exact p values reported: The mailed intervention arm was successful in improving patient outcomes, which was most helpful with high trait anxiety (p = 0.005). Baseline state anxiety of the mail arm was p = 0.003, with follow-up of p = 0.18. Baseline state anxiety of the control group was p = 0.02, with follow-up of p = 0.005.
• Fewer benefits for caregivers were noted.

The study had a small sample size.