Impact of staff training on body temperature measurements during cancer treatment: a single-site quality improvement project

Abstract

Background: Neutropenic sepsis is a serious complication of cancer therapy, and can often be detected by the presence of abnormal body temperature, typically fever. Aims: This research aimed to improve home temperature measurement in a cancer triage unit following a previous audit. Methods: A quality improvement initiative using a ‘Plan, Do, Study, Act’ framework was carried out. Triage staff were educated in the importance of home temperature measurement. Recorded temperature measurements and advice given to 18 886 patients in the pre- and post-intervention periods were compared. Findings: The proportion of triage line contacts in which a home temperature was recorded increased by 8.93% (95% CI (7.49–10.36%)). The proportion of contacts where patients were advised to attend the triage unit after an abnormal body temperature increased by 6.41% (95% CI (2.93–9.90%)). Body temperature at home remained higher than that measured in hospital. Conclusion: After education, adherence to national guidelines was better but there may be scope for improving the measurement of home body temperature.