Development of Self-Management Support Program for Elderly Patients with Lung Cancer Receiving Molecularly-Targeted Therapy

OBJECTIVE: Recently, Japan has seen an increase in the number of elderly patients with lung cancer, and oral molecularly targeted therapy has become an increasingly common treatment option for these patients. Accordingly, we have developed the Self-Management Support Program for Elderly Patients with Lung Cancer who are Receiving Molecularly-Targeted Therapy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate this program based on the responses of nurses to a survey regarding the program's usability by general nurses. METHODS: We developed the program based on our previous study and the existing literature. To evaluate the program, general nurses interested in caring for elderly patients with lung cancer or patients with other forms of cancer receiving oral agents, took part in the survey about the program's appropriateness and usefulness. RESULTS: Twenty-seven nurses took part in the survey. More than 90% of nurses agreed or slightly agreed with these statements: “the purpose of the program is appropriate,” “the program is suitable for patients,” “The program is useful for general nurses,” and “The program is useful for nurses in providing patient support.” However, some of them commented, “Nurses do not have enough time to answer outpatients' queries” and “I'm afraid that general nurses can't use this program, because they don't have enough knowledge about lung cancer patients and oral agents.” CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that the self-management support program was appropriate. Further studies are necessary to modify this program to make it useful for nurses in the clinical setting. To further examine its effectiveness, in future, the program needs to be made available to elderly patients with lung cancer who are receiving molecularly targeted therapy with oral agents in the outpatient department.