THE IMPACT OF REMOTE MONITORING ON PATIENT QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER RADIOTHERAPY TREATMENT

Patients undergoing outpatient radiotherapy need support to manage the toxicities that affect their well-being. The nurse plays a fundamental role in education and support to patients undergoing radiotherapy, but the impact of care is still poorly reported. Remote assistance, through telecommunication, allows proximity to the patients when they are geographically far away and in need of care that provides comfort, safety and quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of remote monitoring on patients‘s quality of life in AC Camargo Cancer Center radiotherapy. This is a retrospective analytical study, with data collected through a freecall approach performed after 07 days of discharge. The study included patients who has completed treatment from January to December 2018, underwent nursing discharge and received a call. Inpatients and unsuccessful calls after 03 attempts totaling 1599 patients were excluded. All cases were classified with improved status, unchanged and worse compared to discharge. The identified complaints related to the skin in the worsened group were pain and burning, hyperpigmentation and hyperemia, itching, dry or wet peeling, blisters and dryness of the skin. According to the referred symptoms and the classification of radiodermatitis according to the Radiotherapy Toxicit Oncology Group, 60% did not worsen the lesion, 20% evolved from grade 01 to 02, 16% grade 0 to 01, 3% grade 01 to03 and 2% from grade 02 to 03. Follow-up after discharge enables the early identification of side effects, clinical deterioration and the clarification of doubts offering support. This contact emerges as an amplifier of the patient‘s bond with the team, as well as ensuring follow-up when necessary and increasing quality of life. After contact 52% of patients demanded return for reevaluation of the nurse and 5% were advised to seek emergency care. Remote monitoring has been of great value in caring for patients who feel welcome, safe and in control of their treatment and recovery. With the maturation of the project it was possible to elaborate a structured data collection instrument and actions that include the follow-up from the first contact until the recovery.