Using QR codes to enable quick access to information in acute cancer care

Br J Nurs. 2017 May 25;26(10):S4-S12. doi: 10.12968/bjon.2017.26.10.S4.

Abstract

Quick access to toxicity management information ensures timely access to steroids/immunosuppressive treatment for cancer patients experiencing immune-related adverse events, thus reducing length of hospital stays or avoiding hospital admission entirely. This article discusses a project to add a QR (quick response) code to a patient-held immunotherapy alert card. As QR code generation is free and the immunotherapy clinical management algorithms were already publicly available through the trust's clinical network website, the costs of integrating a QR code into the alert card, after printing, were low, while the potential benefits are numerous. Patient-held alert cards are widely used for patients receiving anti-cancer treatment, and this established standard of care has been modified to enable rapid access of information through the incorporation of a QR code.

Keywords: Clinical management algorithms; Immunotherapy; Oncology; QR codes.

MeSH terms

  • Access to Information*
  • Algorithms
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / therapy*
  • Health Information Management
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / adverse effects*
  • Internet*
  • Mobile Applications
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Oncology Nursing
  • Smartphone*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Immunologic Factors