An audit of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in children
Clinton, Frieda Dowling, Maura Capra, Michael
Clinton, Frieda
Dowling, Maura
Capra, Michael
Loading...
Repository DOI
Publication Date
2012-09-11
Type
Article
Downloads
Citation
Clinton F, Dowling M, Capra M (2012) 'An audit of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in children’. Nursing Children and Young People, 24, 7, 18-23. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.24.7.18.s22
Abstract
Frieda Clinton and colleagues present a study at one children’s cancer centre into the use and effectiveness of anti-emetics for patients receiving chemotherapy An audit was conducted of the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in children and young people in the national Irish paediatric cancer unit. Over three months, the anti-emetic medication and the incidence of nausea and vomiting in 50 consecutive patient episodes were recorded among 25 children receiving chemotherapy for diverse malignancies. Anti-emetic prescription was found to be unrelated to the emetogenic potential of the chemotherapy received, so that effectiveness varied. Dexamethasone was used in only one case. Twenty children did not take any anti-emetics following discharge, although 11 experienced delayed vomiting. evidence-based guidelines were established and now include anti-emetic prescription that is proportional to the emetogenic potential of the chemotherapeutic regimen. It is also recommended that staff, patients, families and carers should receive education about the need for prescription and use of anti-emetics after discharge.
Funder
Publisher
RCN Publishing
Publisher DOI
10.7748/ncyp.24.7.18.s22
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland