New EORTC guidelines for the treatment of anaemia in patients with cancer: implications for nursing practice.
Anaemia and associated fatigue are common problems in patients with cancer, and fatigue is considered by patients with cancer to be their most limiting symptom. The introduction of erythropoiesis-stimulating proteins (ESPs) has greatly improved the management of anaemia; however, many European patients with cancer-related anaemia are untreated because of a lack of awareness among healthcare professionals of the benefits of anaemia treatment to patients, or because of regional differences in treatment practices. Recently, the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) developed the first European evidence-based guidelines for the use of ESPs in cancer-related anaemia in order to facilitate and standardize the assessment and management of the condition. These guidelines, and the implications for oncology nurses in implementing them in practice, are discussed.
Foubert
Jan
J
Jules Bordet Institute, 1 rue Héger Bordet - Boulevard de Waterloo 121, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. jan.foubert@skynet.be
D000465:Algorithms; D000740:Anemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003663:Decision Trees; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000592:standards; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000592:standards; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
D006454:Hemoglobins; D004921:Erythropoietin