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BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, decentralised clinical trials incorporated self-monitoring, self-reporting, and telenursing tools to address health literacy and health empowerment of patients enrolled in clinical trials. We aimed to determine the impact of an educational intervention using telenursing consultations on health literacy, health empowerment, and health-related quality of life in cancer patients enrolled in clinical trials by measuring the level of satisfaction with the care received and assessing the views of healthcare professionals concerning the advanced practice nurse (APN) role in oncology clinical trials. METHODS: In this pilot analytical, descriptive, longitudinal, quasi-experimental, and pre-post test study, an educational intervention was conducted by 5 visits with an APN using synchronous teleconsultation in patients starting cancer treatment for the first time in a clinical trial (n = 60), and health professionals working with the APN (n = 31). A descriptive analysis of the samples and questionnaires were utilised along with statistical comparisons. RESULTS: After the intervention, patients' health literacy (31.7%), health empowerment (18.3%), and health-related quality of life (33.3%) increased (p < 0.05), with a decrease and trend towards resolution of care needs (p < 0.05). Satisfaction with the quality and care received in terms of perceived convenience, transition, and continuity of care showed positive results in 64.9 ± 20.7, 77.6 ± 19.5, and 72.1 ± 20.4 of respondents, respectively. On the overall assessment of the APN role, healthcare professionals expressed a high level of agreement with the statements related to their work performance. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicates that a clinical trial APN-led telenursing educational intervention results in an overall increase in health literacy, an improvement in health empowerment and health-related quality of life, and a decrease in care needs of oncology clinical trials patients. Patients stated that they received a high quality of care and health professionals indicated high levels of acceptance with APNs. Based on these results, we suggest that the APN role should gain more recognition in the Spanish healthcare system and their professional competencies should be aligned with those of other countries.

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Objetivo: Identificar el perfil competencial de las enfermeras de práctica avanzada que intervienen en el proceso asistencial del paciente oncológico. Método: Estudio descriptivo transversal. El estudio incluyó a todas las enfermeras que intervienen en el proceso asistencial del paciente oncológico en un hospital terciario de Barcelona. Se recogieron los datos del perfil competencial a través del instrumento de definición del rol de la enfermera de práctica avanzada (IDREPA), así como las variables sociodemográficas y laborales. Se compararon datos sociodemográficos y laborales con el desempeño de actividades de práctica avanzada. Resultados: Participaron un total de 29 (82,9%) enfermeras con una media de edad de 42,6± 12,54 años. Se han identificado 9 (31%) enfermeras que alcanzan el estándar en los 6 dominios en la escala IDREPA para considerarse enfermeras de práctica avanzada (EPA). De estas 9 (31%), cumplían los estándares de formación requeridos por el CIE, 7 (24,1%) con máster oficial y 2 (6,9%) con doctorado. Conclusiones: Existen enfermeras que desarrollan su actividad en el ámbito oncológico del Hospital del Mar con perfil de EPA. La identificación de EPA en nuestro sistema de salud es esencial para poder reconocer las competencias de dichas profesionales y crear puestos específicos que ayuden a abordar la cronicidad, la calidad de vida de los pacientes, su supervivencia y la optimización de los recursos sanitarios. Este estudio pone en relieve la importancia de la cronicidad y el cáncer como ámbitos para el desarrollo de la EPA.(AU)

Objective: To identify the competency profile of advanced practice nurses involved in the care process of cancer patients. Methods: Cross-sectional and descriptive study. The study included all nurses involved in the cancer patient care process in a tertiary hospital in Barcelona. Competence profile data were collected using the instrument for defining the role of the advanced practice nurse (APRD), as well as sociodemographic and occupational variables. Sociodemographic and occupational data were compared against the performance of advanced practice activities. Results: A total of 29 (82.9%) nurses participated with a mean age of 42.6±12.54 years. Nine (31%) nurses were identified as meeting the standard in all 6 domains on the APRD scale to be considered advanced practice nurses. Of these 9 (31%) nurses, 7 (24.1%) met the training standards required by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) with an official master's degree and 2 (6.9%) with a PhD. Conclusions: There are nurses who carry out their activity in the oncology field of the Hospital del Mar with the EPA profile. The identification of advanced practice nurses (APNs) in our health system is essential to be able to recognize the competencies of these professionals and create specific positions that help to address chronicity, patients’ quality of life, their survival, and the optimization of health resources. Our study highlights the importance of chronicity and cancer as areas for the development of the APNs.(AU)

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OBJECTIVE: To identify the competency profile of advanced practice nurses involved in the care process of cancer patients. METHODS: Cross-sectional and descriptive study. The study included all nurses involved in the cancer patient care process in a tertiary hospital in Barcelona. Competence profile data were collected using the instrument for defining the role of the advanced practice nurse (APRD), as well as sociodemographic and occupational variables. Sociodemographic and occupational data were compared against the performance of advanced practice activities. RESULTS: A total of 29 (82.9%) nurses participated with a mean age of 42.6±12.54 years. 9 (31%) nurses were identified as meeting the standard in all 6 domains on the APRD scale to be considered advanced practice nurses. Of these 9 (31%) nurses, 7 (24.1%) met the training standards required by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) with an official master's degree and 2 (6.9%) with a PhD. CONCLUSIONS: There are nurses who carry out their activity in the oncology field of the hospital analyzed with the EPA profile. The identification of advanced practice nurses (APNs) in our health system is essential to be able to recognize the competencies of these professionals and create specific positions that help to address chronicity, patients' quality of life, their survival, and the optimization of health resources. Our study highlights the importance of chronicity and cancer as areas for the development of the APNs.