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Supportive Care in Cancer

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01-01-2013 | Original Article

The impact of chemotherapy-related nausea on patients' nutritional status, psychological distress and quality of life

Authors: Carole Farrell, Sarah G. Brearley, Mark Pilling, Alex Molassiotis

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 1/2013

Abstract

Purpose

Nausea is a troublesome and distressing symptom for patients receiving chemotherapy. While vomiting is well controlled with current antiemetics, nausea is a more difficult symptom to manage. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of nausea on nutritional status, quality of life and psychological distress.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study over two cycles of chemotherapy. Patients completed the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Antiemesis Tool, a measure of nutritional status (Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment), the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) quality of life scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at the end of each chemotherapy cycle (around day 10 post-chemotherapy).

Results

The sample consisted of 104 patients, primarily female, receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy. While vomiting was minimal (5.2–14.6 % of the patients), high levels of nausea were observed (55.2–72.9 %), and severe nausea (>6 on a 0–10 scale) was reported by 20.5–29.2 % of the participants. Severe nausea had a borderline significant impact in relation to physical functioning (p = 0.025) and a significant impact on nutritional status (severe acute nausea, p = 0.003; severe delayed nausea, p = 0.017). Clinically meaningful changes were observed in relation to the FACT-G total score.

Conclusion

Chemotherapy-induced nausea does have an impact on nutritional status and physical functioning and can impair anxiety and quality of life. As a key symptom associated with other symptoms, it is imperative that greater attention is given to managing treatment-related nausea through innovative non-pharmacological and nutritional interventions.

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Title: The impact of chemotherapy-related nausea on patients' nutritional status, psychological distress and quality of life
Authors: Carole Farrell
Sarah G. Brearley
Mark Pilling
Alex Molassiotis
Publication date: 01-01-2013
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 1/2013
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1493-9

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