Patients' use of prevention behaviors in managing side effects related to chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the use of prevention and early detection behaviors related to the side effects of chemotherapy.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, descriptive, and secondary analysis.


METHODS
A large university hospital and university-affiliated community hospital.


METHODS
46 adult patients with cancer starting a cycle of IV chemotherapy who were predominantly white, married, and female.


METHODS
Self-report utilizing a 17-item, self-administered prevention and early detection questionnaire called the Prevention Behaviors Questionnaire (PBQ); questionnaires were completed two days and five days after treatment.


METHODS
Prevention and early detection behaviors.


RESULTS
Patients reported using an average of 8.8 prevention behaviors two days after chemotherapy and 9.2 behaviors five days after chemotherapy. "Tried to think more positively" was the most frequently used behavior. Internal consistency and test-retest correlation coefficients on the questionnaire were calculated to be 0.81 and 0.78, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The PBQ had adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Patients reported using many prevention and detection behaviors, although very little is known about the efficacy of these behaviors in reducing or preventing the side effects of chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
This exploratory study does not have direct implications for practice but identifies an area for future research that may affect what nurses teach patients and how they assist patients to cope with treatment.
Fieler
V K
VK
University of Rochester Cancer Center, NY, USA.
Nail
L M
LM
Greene
D
D
Jones
L S
LS
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents