The Nursing Journal of India
Nursing Journal of India (NJI) is the one of the world’s oldest journal regularly published with a legacy of more than 100 years.

Nursing interventions are central to specialist palliative care, addressing physical, psychosocial, and supportive needs. Systematic documentation and evaluation in outpatient oncology settings remain limited. This study evaluated the frequency, type, and outcomes of nursing interventions at the palliative care outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary cancer centre. A retrospective review of client records from 1 January to 30 June 2023 at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, was conducted. Of 903 records screened, 110 were excluded due to incomplete documentation or paediatric age, leaving 793 adult cases for analysis. Data were extracted from nursing intervention and procedure records that included patient characteristics, interventions, and outcomes; Chi-square tests assessed associations between intervention type and symptom improvement using SPSS v25. Among 793 patients (mean age 48.9 years; 51.3% female), head & neck (26.6%), gastrointestinal (17.8%), and breast cancers (14.0%) predominated. Mild pain occurred in 439 (55.4%) patients, moderate in 86 (10.8%), and severe in 1 (0.1%). Non-opioid analgesics were highly effective for mild (87.5% improved) and moderate pain (80.0%), while opioids showed moderate effectiveness (mild: 44.4%; moderate: 45.5%). Severe pain remained largely untreated. Analgesic type was significantly associated with pain improvement (χ² = 1,442.07, df = 2, p < 0.001). Discharge-related wounds (26.6%) and general dressings (20.8%) were most common, while bleeding-related wounds (1.7%), maggot/debridement (0.7%), and bed sore care (0.4%) were less frequent. Wound type significantly influenced the likelihood of intervention (χ² = 573.47, p < 0.001). Gastrointestinal - antiemetics (22% given; 2.2% improvement), IV fluids for dehydration (6.7% improvement); respiratory interventions, including dyspnoea management and nebulisation, were documented in less than 5 percent patients: Nursing interventions in outpatient palliative care encompass pharmacological and supportive measures, primarily pain management and wound care. Structured documentation and electronic medical record integration enhance symptom control, interdisciplinary communication, and care quality. Psychosocial care documentation is recommended for holistic, patient-centred outcomes. The authors are:1. Professor-cum-Vice-Principal; 2. MSc Nursing student; 3. BSc Nursing, student. All 1 to 3 are at Bhabha National Institute University, Tata Memorial Hospital, College of Nursing, Mumbai. Key words: Palliative nursing documentation, Nursing interventions, Oncology nursin


Creative Commons License