A stepped nurse‐led LARS clinic: A qualitative evaluation

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the significance of a stepped nurse-led low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) clinic for patients. METHODS: A Nurse-Led Clinic (NLC) with a stepped intervention approach for patients with LARS was developed and implemented. An exploratory study was conducted in three hospitals to evaluate the nurse-led clinic. Adult rectal cancer patients experiencing LARS who attended the NLC were recruited via maximum variation sampling for semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was performed, employing researcher triangulation to enhance reliability. RESULTS: Seventeen participants were interviewed to evaluate the clinic. Participants described five characteristics: (1) presence of the nurse, (2) accessibility, (3) providing recognition, affirmation and understanding, (4) coordinating and (5) timing of the consultation. In addition, participants outlined four principal tasks: (1) providing information, (2) management of symptoms, (3) support and (4) follow-up and continuity of care. CONCLUSION: The NLC offered meaningful support by addressing patients' concerns comprehensively. It normalised the condition, empowered patients with tailored information and provided effective symptom management strategies. REPORTING METHOD: SRQR checklist.