{"title":"Evaluation of Oncology/Hematology Nurses' Proficiency in Assessing Lower-Extremity Skin and Edema in Patients with Cancer: An Observational Study.","authors":"Zeliha Genç, Ayda Kebapci, Dilek Yildirim, Gulbeyaz Can, Orhan Zeytun, Elif Kök","doi":"10.1097/ASW.0000000000000248","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To assess the competency of oncology/hematology nurses in evaluating the lower extremities of patients with cancer for skin conditions and edema.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective and descriptive observational study was conducted with patients in a university hospital's 48-bed oncology/hematology service. Patients with cancer admitted to the oncology/hematology service were examined independently by three evaluators (two nurse researchers and the patient's primary nurse) daily. Interrater reliability for assessing patients' right and left legs was determined using Fleiss κ statistics for categorical variables.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study revealed a high degree of agreement among the three evaluators in the assessment of skin surface, skin color, and presence of petechiae and rashes on the right and left leg, as well as itching on the left leg. However, only moderate agreement was found for temperature assessment, ecchymoses edema on the left and right leg, and itching on the right leg. The reliability of the two researcher nurses' assessment of edema on the right and left legs was excellent.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although the agreement between the two researcher nurses was near excellent, only moderate agreement was observed among all evaluators in the edema assessment. The result underscores the importance of healthcare providers' knowledge and enhancing clinical skills through innovative training strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":7489,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Skin & Wound Care","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Advances in Skin & Wound Care","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/ASW.0000000000000248","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"DERMATOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: To assess the competency of oncology/hematology nurses in evaluating the lower extremities of patients with cancer for skin conditions and edema.
Methods: This prospective and descriptive observational study was conducted with patients in a university hospital's 48-bed oncology/hematology service. Patients with cancer admitted to the oncology/hematology service were examined independently by three evaluators (two nurse researchers and the patient's primary nurse) daily. Interrater reliability for assessing patients' right and left legs was determined using Fleiss κ statistics for categorical variables.
Results: The study revealed a high degree of agreement among the three evaluators in the assessment of skin surface, skin color, and presence of petechiae and rashes on the right and left leg, as well as itching on the left leg. However, only moderate agreement was found for temperature assessment, ecchymoses edema on the left and right leg, and itching on the right leg. The reliability of the two researcher nurses' assessment of edema on the right and left legs was excellent.
Conclusions: Although the agreement between the two researcher nurses was near excellent, only moderate agreement was observed among all evaluators in the edema assessment. The result underscores the importance of healthcare providers' knowledge and enhancing clinical skills through innovative training strategies.
期刊介绍:
A peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary journal, Advances in Skin & Wound Care is highly regarded for its unique balance of cutting-edge original research and practical clinical management articles on wounds and other problems of skin integrity. Each issue features CME/CE for physicians and nurses, the first journal in the field to regularly offer continuing education for both disciplines.