title: Self-regulation treatment to reduce the aversiveness of cancer chemotherapy.
abstract: In an A-B design, the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention for reducing chemotherapy-associated nausea and emesis in an 11-year-old cancer patient was evaluated. A highly structured, time-limited, self-regulation treatment was implemented that consisted of patient and parent instruction in self-hypnotic methods, cue-controlled relaxation, and guided imagery. Practice of the self-regulation methods at home and in vivo (clinic setting) in the absence of chemotherapy infusion were emphasized to promote skill acquisition and cross-setting generalization. Dependent variables included self-reported nausea intensity and parental report of duration of the patient's sleep and vomiting frequency. Data were obtained before, during, and following chemotherapy for baseline and self-regulation treatment phases across five cycles of chemotherapy that occurred over a 5-month period. During the intervention phase, a marked and clinically significant reduction in self-reported nausea and parent-observed vomiting were noted as well as a concurrent increase in sleep duration. The integrity of patient self-report and parental observations were supported by clinic staff anecdotal data. Treatment limitations and cost-effectiveness are discussed as well as the use of this intervention with adolescent patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University, Columbus 43205.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Tarnowski
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Olson
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001326:Autogenic Training; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents