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PurposeThe interprofessional collaboration is a key practice for providing cancer care. However, the realization of collaboration requires effective leadership and administrative support. In this study, the aim was to analyze healthcare professionals' perceptions of leadership and administrative support (strategic and management) in interprofessional collaboration for developing practices in cancer care.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive survey design was used to collect data from healthcare professionals (n = 350, response rate 33.3%), including nurses, physicians and other professionals participating in patient care in one Finnish cancer center (out of five) in 05/2018–10/2018. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The instrument focused on leadership in the work unit and administrative support including organization strategy and organizational management.FindingsHealthcare professionals perceived leadership in the work unit, organization strategy and management for the support of interprofessional collaboration as weak. However, the ratings of male respondents and those in leading positions were more positive. The findings indicate that healthcare professionals in the cancer care setting are dissatisfied with the leadership and administrative support.Research limitations/implicationsInterprofessional collaboration, including its leadership, requires systematic and constant evaluation and development.Originality/valueHealthcare leaders in the cancer care setting can use the results to identify factors that might be in need of attention and development in the field of interprofessional collaboration.

Objective The purpose of this study is to describe the pre-requisites and realisation of interprofessional collaboration as perceived by healthcare professionals working in the cancer care setting and to produce knowledge to support the development of collaborative practices. Methods This study employed a descriptive survey design. The data were collected in one Finnish cancer centre between May and October 2018 from nurses, physicians and other healthcare professionals using an electronic survey (n = 350). The survey focused on the pre-requisites of interprofessional collaboration (appreciation and competence) and its realisation in cancer care. The data were analysed using descriptive and interferential statistics. Results The pre-requisites of interprofessional collaboration were perceived as good and the collaboration was well realised in the cancer centre. The perceptions of pre-requisites and realisation were associated with each other. Male respondents, physicians and professionals belonging to interprofessional teams had more positive perceptions of the pre-requisites and realisation of interprofessional collaboration than others. Conclusion The findings indicate that the pre-requisites of interprofessional collaboration and its realisation seem to be well implemented in the cancer care setting. However, the ongoing evaluation of interprofessional collaboration requires further attention from healthcare administration and professionals to support the systematic development of collaborative practices.

Aims and objectives To evaluate the effect of the Breast Cancer Patient Pathway program on breast cancer patient's empowerment process. Background The results of earlier studies indicate that the use of tailored Internet-based patient education programs increased patient's knowledge level; however, other outcome measures differed. Design This randomised control trial studied the effect of the Internet-based patient educational program on breast cancer patients' empowerment. In this study, we measured the quality of life, anxiety and managing with treatment-related side effects as the outcomes of breast cancer patients' empowering process. Methods Breast cancer patients who were Internet users in one Finnish university hospital during 2008–2010 were randomised to the control group (n = 43) and the intervention group (n = 47). Baseline data were collected first in the hospital and the following data seven times during the treatment process, the last time one year after breast cancer diagnosis. Results There were no statistically significant differences in the quality of life, anxiety or side effects of treatment between the groups. The amount of treatment-related side effects was connected to both physical and psychological well-being. Conclusions In this study, the Breast Cancer Patient Pathway program did not decrease anxiety level or treatment-related side effects among breast cancer patients or improve subscales of quality of life when compared with controls. Relevance to clinical practice There is a need to relieve the side effects caused by patients' care with the help of patient education. Internet-based patient education programs need more focus when developing new patient education methods.

Objective The aim of this systematic review was to analyze what kind of Internet or interactive computer-based patient education programs have been developed and to analyze the effectiveness of these programs in the field of breast cancer patient education. Patient education for breast cancer patients is an important intervention to empower the patient. However, we know very little about the effects and potential of Internet-based patient education in the empowerment of breast cancer patients. Methods Complete databases were searched covering the period from the beginning of each database to November 2008. Studies were included if they concerned patient education for breast cancer patients with Internet or interactive computer programs and were based on randomized controlled, on clinical trials or quasi-experimental studies. Results We identified 14 articles involving 2374 participants. The design was randomized controlled trial in nine papers, in two papers clinical trial and in three quasi-experimental. Seven of the studies were randomized to experimental and control groups, in two papers participants were grouped by ethnic and racial differences and by mode of Internet use and three studies measured the same group pre- and post-tests after using a computer program. The interventions used were described as interactive computer or multimedia programs and use of the Internet. The methodological solutions of the studies varied. The effects of the studies were diverse except for knowledge-related issues. Internet or interactive computer-based patient education programs in the care of breast cancer patients may have positive effect increasing breast cancer knowledge. Conclusion The results suggest a positive relationship between the Internet or computer-based patient education program use and the knowledge level of patients with breast cancer but a diverse relationship between patient's participation and other outcome measures. Practice implications There is need to develop and research more Internet-based patient education.

The purpose of this study is to describe patients' experiences of the quality of care received at a radiotherapy centre. The data were collected using the Good Nursing Care Scale For Patients (GNCS/P), which was modified for this study. Structured questionnaires were handed out in March-May 2004 to 150 adult curative cancer patients attending outpatient radiotherapy at a university hospital in Finland. A total of 135 completed questionnaires were returned. The patients were generally satisfied with the quality of care they received. Among the four quality categories, the highest ratings were given to staff characteristics, and the lowest to the environment. Younger patients, employed patients and those with a higher level of education gave the lowest quality ratings. Improvements are needed primarily in the counselling and education of patients and their relatives. The results of this study provide valuable clues for improving the quality of care in radiotherapy based on patients' expectations.

This study aims to test the effectiveness on psychosocial outcomes of electronic feedback knowledge of radiotherapy intervention (e-Re-Know) for breast cancer patients.Randomized controlled trial in one university hospital in Finland was carried out. Breast cancer patients (n = 126) in the radiotherapy (RT) department were randomly assigned into two groups: intervention (the e-Re-Know and standard education) and control group (standard education). The e-Re-Know intervention consisted of e-feedback after response to the knowledge test delivered by e-mail. Instruments were completed before commencing first RT (M1), after concluding last RT (M2) and 3 months after last RT (M3). The main outcomes were anxiety and QOL.Compared with the control group, the patients in the intervention group reported a marginally significant improvement in anxiety and significant improvement in QOL over time.The e-Re-Know seems to have positive effects on psychosocial outcomes for breast cancer patients. They might gain additional value from the e-Re-Know over a longer time period. Further research needs to focus more on development of e-feedback in patient education.

This study describes knowledge tests in patient education through a systematic review of the Medline, Cinahl, PsycINFO, and ERIC databases with the guidance of the PRISMA Statement. Forty-nine knowledge tests were identified. The contents were health-problem related, focusing on biophysiological and functional knowledge. The mean number of items was 20, with true-false or multiple-choice scales. Most of the tests were purposely designed for the studies included in the review. The most frequently reported quality assessments of knowledge tests were content validity and internal consistency. The outcome measurements for patient-education needs were comprehensive, validating knowledge tests that cover multidimensional aspects of knowledge. Besides the measurement of the outcomes of patient education, knowledge tests could be used for several purposes in patient education: to guide the content of education as checklists, to monitor the learning process, and as educational tools. There is a need for more efficient content and health problem-specific knowledge-test assessments.

Breast cancer and its treatment radiotherapy, have impact on woman's psychosocial and physical well-being causing disruption to quality of life. Because of the positive effects of knowledge on quality of life there is a challenge to develop effective education methods. Due to the growing use of internet among breast cancer patients the development should be focused on e-education. An e-education method, the e-Knowledge Test of radiotherapy with feedback for breast cancer patients (e-KTRT-BC) was planned and piloted. The content of it based on literature of breast cancer patients' knowledge needs of radiotherapy and structured through aspects of empowerment as a nursing intervention. The face validity study that was conducted via email revealed that the content of e-KTRC-BC was easy to use and understand. The e-KTRT-BC could be used as an e-education method to meet the breast cancer patients' knowledge needs. Evaluating the empowering effect of patient e-education with feedback is important for further development of e-education methods.

Objective The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of Breast Cancer Patient Pathway program. Methods In one Finnish university hospital during 2008–10 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients were randomised to the intervention ( n = 50) and the control groups ( n = 48). The breast cancer patient's knowledge expectations and perception of received knowledge, knowledge, the source of information and satisfaction in received patient education were measured. Baseline and one year follow up data collection was conducted. Results No differences were found in knowledge expectations between the groups at baseline. Patients in the control group evaluated their perception of received knowledge to be higher and they were more satisfied with the patient education they received from the hospital staff. However, the Intervention group's knowledge level was higher. The most important source of information was the healthcare professionals in both groups. Conclusion The results of study indicate that when patient education increases, patients’ knowledge expectations increase as well, while their perceptions of received knowledge decrease. Future research is needed to examine the relationship between patients’ knowledge expectations and perception of received knowledge as patients’ knowledge level increases. Practice implications Patient education has to be individually adjusted, taking patients’ expectations into account.