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July 2010
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BOPA & UKONS Conference 2009
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Managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
The first highlight was a double-hander from Elaine Rankin, Professor of Cancer Medicine, and Alan O’Kane, Specialist Pharmacist, both from Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, on the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Elaine explained that although nausea and vomiting is one of the most distressing aspects of chemotherapy, it can be controlled in 80% of patients. Unfortunately, many primary care organisations regard modern anti-emetic regimens as costly and unnecessary—despite evidence that inadequate management of nausea and vomiting can lead to reduced or delayed chemotherapy dosage and thus sub-optimal treatment.
During questions, it emerged that a 3-year, nurse-led audit in a Bournemouth hospital had shown anti-emetics were cost neutral if bed days associated with the management of nausea and vomiting were taken into account.
Alan O’Kane presented a survey of adherence to the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) guidelines on anti-emetic regimens. Adherence to the recommended drug regimens improved symptoms by 20%, a figure that proved statistically significant. The general consensus was that to gain local approval for the use of modern anti-emetics, oncology professionals might need to show that these regimens reduce inpatient care.
Discussion.