Nursing students prepare information kit to help patients understand

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Months ago, a group of Moncton nursing students and their instructor took the initiative to prepare an information kit specifically for people diagnosed with colorectal cancer, providing information in an easy-to-understand format along with answers to frequently asked questions and pointing them to resources and support groups.

That kit was officially launched yesterday at The Moncton Hospital's oncology unit to medical staff and interested persons. Also in attendance was a representative of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Initially, 150 kits in French and English will be distributed in the Metro Moncton medical community, specifically oncologists, nurses and surgeons as well as the cancer society and the two hospitals.

The goal right now is to see what the response is, if the packages help people just diagnosed with colorectal cancer understand what is happening, said Saira Mahmud, a third-year nursing student at the University of New Brunswick Moncton campus and one of the seven students who prepared the kit.

If successful, the plan is to distribute them province-wide so all New Brunswickers have recourse to the information, she explained. The kit includes a survey as part of the project.

Mahmud said the group is also contemplating doing something similar for people diagnosed with other types of cancer such as lung, breast, prostate and ovarian.

The colorectal kit was prepared with the help of medical professionals including oncologists.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in New Brunswick with 540 New Brunswickers, both men and women, expected to be diagnosed with the cancer in 2009.

"Our research indicated there is a need for trusted and reliable information for both the client and their family at the time of initial diagnosis and throughout their cancer journey," said fellow nursing student Nathalie Lapointe.

"Ideally, the end goal is to have clients with colorectal cancer and their loved ones having early access to this information, feeling empowered, supported and thriving with a higher quality of life," she added.