Breast care nursing in North Wales: an evaluation of breast care nursing from the perspective of practice nurses and district nurses

Background to the study: Breast care services for Wales have developed in response to government requirements that breast cancer care should be delivered only by specialist multi-disciplinary teams in cancer units treating at least 100 new breast cancer patients per year.Study aims: This paper presents the findings of the second stage of a three-stage study, which evaluated the North Wales Breast Care Nursing Service. The aim of this stage was to evaluate the breast care nursing service from the perspective of District Nurses and Practice Nurses.Methodological issues: A postal questionnaire was distributed to the total population of District Nursing Sisters (n=97) and Practice Nurses (n=243) within North Wales. The questionnaire comprised both open and closed items as well as a 15-item Likert Scale.Findings/conclusion: The study demonstrated the value of the BCNS, as perceived by two other community nursing disciplines within North Wales. The service was considered to be responsive, accessible and to offer support and advice for patients. Community nurses who were familiar with the BCNS service, or had used the service, considered BCNSs to have excellent clinical skills, on which they could draw as a resource. Nurses who were less familiar with the service considered that it should be promoted more effectively to community nurses. It is concluded that District Nurses could have a vital role in the care of women with breast cancer, but need support, advice and training from the BCNS service to enable them to provide a complementary role. This could ultimately enable BCNS time could be used more effectively.