Omolola Salako: Advancing side effect care at the National Hospital Abuja

Omolola Salako, Chief Executive Officer, Pearl Oncology Specialist Hospital, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Side effects are a common occurrence for cancer patients undergoing treatment. Effective management of these side effects improves patient quality of life, adherence to treatment, and overall outcomes.  Therefore, training healthcare professionals on side effect management is crucial to ensure that patients receive the best possible care. We are delighted to have a committed team advancing side effect care at the National Hospital Abuja.

Meeting the STARPIPE team led by the Center PI, Basira Hanafi Lawal was a pleasure. The STARPIPE program successfully engaged oncology residents, family physicians, medical officers, and nurses to improve acute side effect management in cancer care.

As we continue the STARPIPE  training, critical areas of focus for training healthcare professionals include:

– Understanding common side effects: Healthcare professionals should be knowledgeable about the various side effects associated with different cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy.

– Assessing and managing side effects: Training covers the assessment of side effects and their impact on daily life. Healthcare professionals should also be equipped with strategies for managing common side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pain, and skin reactions.

– Communicating with patients: Effective communication is essential for managing side effects. Healthcare professionals would be trained to discuss side effects openly and honestly with patients, address their concerns, and provide reassurance.

– Utilizing digital tools: Technology can play a valuable role in side effect management. Healthcare professionals should be trained to use digital tools like patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures and mobile applications to monitor side effects and provide timely interventions.

– Collaborating with other healthcare professionals: Managing side effects often requires a multidisciplinary approach. To ensure comprehensive care, healthcare professionals should be trained to collaborate with other specialists, such as oncologists, nurses, pharmacists, and social workers.”

Source: Omolola Salako/LinkedIn