Gestational Trophoblastic Disease: Best Practice Nursing Guidelines

Abstract

Background: Clinical outcomes in gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) are generally excellent, but GTD is a rare and complex condition that requires specialist information and support to offer a gold standard of care. Across Europe, specialist nurses and/or midwives are increasingly common in the GTD multidisciplinary team to work alongside medical professionals in a holistic model of care; however, the role is sometimes non-existent or can vary significantly between GTD centres. Objectives: The aim of the European Organisation for Treatment of Trophoblastic Diseases’ (EOTTD) is to harmonise best practice in Europe. To provide a basis for the European standardisation of best practice nursing care in GTD, a group of European GTD nurses/midwives composed guidelines for minimal requirements and optimal nursing care of GTD patients. Methods: Members of the EOTTD member countries with nursing representation attended multiple workshops, both virtual and in person, and guidelines were created by consensus and evidence where available. Outcome: 16 nurses and 1 midwife from 4 countries (England, Ireland, Sweden, and the Netherlands) contributed. The group created flow diagrams for treatment and screening patients, showing minimum and best practice nursing care for patients with GTD. Conclusion: Despite the many different models of care and resources available to GTD services, this consensus working group has provided a set of guidelines to drive forward a patient focused holistic model of care for GTD patients. This is an original paper, whereby no such guidelines in GTD nursing have been developed before. The implementation of guidelines will encourage other health care professionals to improve the provision of patient care.