Improving the care of cancer patients: holistic needs assessment

Young, Jenny; Cund, Audrey; Renshaw, Marian; Quigley, Angela; Snowden, Austyn

Abstract

This discussion paper presents a review of holistic needs assessments (HNAs) in the care of patients with cancer. HNAs entail a structured review of patient needs as articulated by the patient. This discussion then leads to a care plan grounded in issues pertinent to that patient. Despite policy guidance advocating its use, there are barriers to overcome in order to integrate HNAs into routine care. This article discusses what role communication skills and clinician confidence may have on the use of HNAs in practice, and suggests a strategy to support HNAs becoming the norm.

Citation

Young, J., Cund, A., Renshaw, M., Quigley, A., & Snowden, A. (2015). Improving the care of cancer patients: holistic needs assessment. British Journal of Nursing, 24(Sup4), S17-S20. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2015.24.Sup4.S17

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 1, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Feb 27, 2015
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Deposit Date: Aug 13, 2015
• Print ISSN: 0966-0461
• Electronic ISSN: 2052-2819
• Publisher: Mark Allen Healthcare
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 24
• Issue: Sup4
• Pages: S17-S20
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2015.24.Sup4.S17
• Keywords: Needs assessment, Organisational culture, Quality of life, Communication, Confidence, Patient-centred care
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/8978