Standardizing Patient Education on HSCT Benefits Patients, Nurse Coordinators

There are multiple benefits when nurses use a “comprehensive and standardized approach” to educating patients about hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), according to a recent study.

Nancy Buchta, RN, BMTCN, OCN, and Erin Hillmon, MSN, RN, BMT-CN, of the Seidman Cancer Center, conducted the study and presented their findings during the 2024 Tandem Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of ASTCT and CIBMTR. The researchers explained that educating patients undergoing HSCT is an “important role” of the HSCT nurse coordinator, as “patients often have many questions and experience anxiety prior to transplant, and education of the process is one way to help alleviate their fears.”

However, the study authors noted that the “lack of standardized material” for educating patients undergoing HSCT became apparent during a period of HSCT coordinator turnover at an academic institution that performs around 100 transplants annually.

“It became evident that without standard educational content, each coordinator was sharing varying levels of information,” Ms. Buchta and Ms. Hillmon explained. “Lack of sameness among educations caused patient confusion, anxiety, and at times, dissatisfaction with the transplant process.”

To address the inconsistencies in patient education about HSCT, the study authors developed standardized content and materials to be used by nurse coordinators when they educated patients about the HSCT process. They aimed to improve the educational process and ensure that each patient received the same educational content.

The process involved developing a nurse-led team and establishing “critical education content” for patients undergoing HSCT. The content focused on the pre-HSCT work-up process, chemotherapy administration, and transplant admission expectations. Patients and families received copies of an educational outline before the session to allow them to follow along with the presentation and take notes. In addition, transplant education templates were posted within the institution’s digital workspace so coordinators could print them as needed.

The researchers discovered multiple benefits from “streamlining and formalizing the educational process,” explaining that patients and their families are now getting “complete information at their education sessions.” In addition, all patients are now receiving the same education about HSCT at the institution.

The study authors also found that HSCT nurse coordinators reported “more confidence in completing education” by establishing standardized content. The process benefitted patients and staff alike, as HSCT recipients and HSCT coordinators both reported “improved” overall satisfaction.

“A comprehensive and standardized approach to educating patients about transplant helps to relieve anxiety associated with transplant, and increases patient satisfaction,” the study authors concluded. “Similarly, utilizing standardized content also improves [HSCT] coordinator satisfaction.”

Reference

Buchta N and Hillmon E. Standardizing education for patients preparing for stem cell transplant. Abstract #580. Presented at the 2024 Tandem Meetings | Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of ASTCT® and CIBMTR®, February 21-24, 2024, San Antonio, Texas.