Aims:
Tasked by the Commonwealth Government with creating a Model of Care for all cancers, the McGrath Foundation undertook a co-design process to develop a model reflective of the supportive care needs of people affected by cancer of any type. In the early stages of consultation, it was determined that care pathways for people with haematological cancers significantly differed from solid tumour pathways. This determined the need for a discrete model of care for haematological cancers.
Methods:
The McGrath Model of Care – Haematological Cancers was co-designed over 18 months (2024-2026). Five in-person and online workshops were held with multidisciplinary clinicians and those with a lived experience of a haematological cancer. The purpose of the workshops was to identify, define and understand the distinct aspects of supportive cancer nursing care in the haematological setting. Workshop data were analysed using a content analysis process to identify key themes.
Results:
Clinicians (n=42) and people with a lived experience (n=26) attended the workshops in Sydney, Melbourne and online. The resulting model builds on the McGrath Model of Care for solid tumours. Key considerations in the construction of the haematological model were the complexity of treatment regimens, rapid diagnosis, immunosuppression, severe and complex symptoms, and long-term monitoring. Direct links to resources and services for people with haematological cancers, their carers and clinicians are included in the haematological model.
Conclusions:
The McGrath Model Care – Haematological Cancers provides a comprehensive supportive cancer care nursing framework for people impacted by haematological cancer, regardless of blood disease type, stage of care or geographic location. The model enables McGrath Cancer Care Nurses specialising in haematology to provide evidence-informed and personalised cancer nursing care.