Taste changes experienced by patients receiving chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To increase knowledge about the nature, frequency, and quality-of-life (QOL) effects associated with taste changes after chemotherapy.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, descriptive.


METHODS
11 outpatient urban and suburban oncology centers.


METHODS
284 adults who had received at least two chemotherapy cycles.


METHODS
Patients completed a taste change questionnaire and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General, and nurses collected demographic and disease-related information. Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance were calculated.


RESULTS
Taste changes were frequent and at least moderately severe for many patients, who often reported dry mouth, decreased appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Cisplatin and doxorubicin were the agents most likely to be related to severe taste changes and to have caused greater distress from taste changes, which also were associated with decreased QOL. Oncology nurses and physicians rarely discussed taste changes with patients, who often tried changing the ways they seasoned their food.


CONCLUSIONS
Taste changes are a frequent and significant problem for patients receiving chemotherapy and have negative effects on patients' QOL. Oncology nurses and physicians typically do not offer self-management suggestions to patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING RESEARCH AND PRACTICE: Repeated-measures research may provide a clearer understanding of chemotherapy-associated taste changes over time. Studies to examine strategies suggested from this and other research as well as clinical literature may determine which self-care interventions are most useful. Nurses should inform patients that taste changes may occur following chemotherapy, provide self-management information, and assess for related problems that could increase chemotherapy morbidity.
Wickham
R S
RS
Rush College of Nursing in Chicago, IL, USA.
Rehwaldt
M
M
Kefer
C
C
Shott
S
S
Abbas
K
K
Glynn-Tucker
E
E
Potter
C
C
Blendowski
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D008297:Male; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D011788:Quality of Life; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000451:nursing*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents