Asian Oncol Nurs.  2024 Mar;24(1):1-10. 10.5388/aon.2024.24.1.1.

Development of the Telephone Triage Guidelines and Computerized Application for Symptom Management in Cancer Patients

• Kim JY
• Kang EH
• Baek YA
• Ahn JY
• Lee SH

• KMID: 2554552
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5388/aon.2024.24.1.1

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to develop standardized guidelines for telephone consultations and assess the impact of computerization on clinical utility.
Methods
Guidelines for patient classification were developed for 14 symptoms, validated by experts, and integrated into a real-time computer program. Patient classification involved categorizations of ‘observation,’ ‘outpatient,’ and ‘emergency’. Subsequent to computerization, a survey was conducted to evaluate its usefulness.
Results
Items with an Item-Content Validity Index (I-CVI) score of 0.75 or lower were removed or adjusted within the guidelines. Analysis of 200 consultation records indicated that lung cancer (87 cases) was the most common disease and the most prevalent symptom was pain (57 cases). Among 93 cases classified as ‘observation’, 6 patients visited the emergency room. Among 30 cases categorized as ‘outpatient’, 24 patients visited a clinic, and 6 patients visited the emergency room. Of the 19 cases classified as ‘emergency’, 18 patients actually visited the emergency room. User satisfaction from 12 nurses was very high, with an average score of 3.7/4.
Conclusion
Due to the standardized telephone triage and the concurrent implementation of a computerized program, healthcare professionals can conveniently and comprehensively analyze big data pertaining to patients’ symptoms. Ultimately, nurses were able to receive help with more specialized telenursing.

Keyword

Guideline; Signs and Symptoms; Telenursing; Triage