OBJECTIVES

: CINV are the most feared distressing adverse events associated with cancer treatment, but the antiemetic treatment (AET) remains suboptimal. We aimed to examine how oncologists and nurses approached and provided AET and to inquire patients’ perception.

METHODS

: We used a phenomenological, qualitative approach. Sixteen patients, twelve oncologists and seventeen nurses were recruited according their various experiences. Face-to-face interviews about CINV were conducted. Semi-structured interview transcripts were analysed using grounded theory.

RESULTS

: Oncologists underestimate the burden of nausea and its impact on the quality of life of patients. They reported prescribing antiemetic treatment according to guidelines, as well as advising patients and providing supportive care. They task the nurse with managing patients’ symptoms evaluating the tolerability of treatment, but did not frequently discuss compliance with antiemetic treatment.

Patients expect CINV as normal but feared side effect of chemotherapy (CT). They described difficulties with the AET prescription and its side effects. They reported complaining to nurses rather than physicians about CINV, and also sought nurses advice for explanation and support.

There was a gap between the patients’ and physicians’ perceptions of the role of nurses. The nurses provided the technical and psychological aspects of their care, provided explanations of treatments, and followed the patients for the emergence of potential side effects. Nurses reported very limited access to patients’ files, including and prescriptions, and reported not enough communication with physicians.

Nurses reported needing more knowledge about cancer and treatments as part of nursing training, including how to provide supportive care.

In general, the perceptions of CINV management were different among our three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

: Qualitative analysis showed aspects of optimal treatment implementation, as well as gaps in cancer care. These results suggest clear directions for improving management of cancer using CT.