Enhancing cancer care in China

A national, multi-site evidence implementation project in China has standardised the content of pre-chemotherapy assessment for cancer patients in 70 hospitals across 32 cities, improving cancer patients’ safety, well-being and quality of life.

Cancer incidence and mortality rates in China continue to rise, mirroring global trends, with cancer now a leading cause of death in the country. Chemotherapy is a primary cancer treatment that, while effective, carries significant risks of adverse effects that can substantially impact patient outcomes and quality of life.

Chemotherapy can also lead to numerous adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting, fatigue and kidney toxicity, threatening the physical and mental health of patients. Misuse of chemotherapeutic drugs can seriously endanger patients' lives. Therefore, to maintain the safety of chemotherapy for cancer patients and to reduce the incidence of adverse reactions to chemotherapy, many guidelines state that a comprehensive assessment of the cancer patient should be conducted and documented before chemotherapy. This recommended procedure, however, has yet to be extensively embraced in Chinese hospitals.

A JBI Centre of Excellence in China, the Nanfang Nursing Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, launched the project.

“The multi-site evidence implementation project addresses the lack of standardised guidelines for nursing assessment of chemotherapy patients and the significant gaps in knowledge and practice among clinical nurses in China. By implementing evidence-based practices and standardising protocols, the project enhances the quality and safety of chemotherapy administration for improved patient outcomes”, said Dr Yanni Wu.

The project has also fostered a cultural shift towards evidence-based nursing care. Baseline audit and follow-up audits demonstrate that participating nurses showing increased enthusiasm and belief in implementing evidence-based practices.

The project was conducted using the JBI approach to evidence implementation, and within each site hospitals used the JBI PACES and GRiP (Getting Research into Practice. The use of standardised tools and methodologies provides a replicable model for future evidence implementation efforts, both within China and internationally. The scalability of this approach, as demonstrated by its successful implementation across 70 hospitals, suggests its potential for broader application in addressing other healthcare challenges.

The published study of the project, Pre-treatment assessment of chemotherapy for cancer patients: a multi-site evidence implementation project of 74 hospitals in China, describes the implementation process in detail, providing a reference for EBP practitioners to carry out large-scale multi-site evidence implementation projects in the future.