Cytotoxic chemotherapy for incurable colorectal cancer: living with a PICC-line.
OBJECTIVE
(i) To determine which aspects of living with a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line cause Modified de Gramont (MdG) patients most difficulty. (ii) To explore MdG patients' views of the PICC-line experience. (iii) To determine if patients view PICC-lines as a benefit or a burden when receiving ambulatory MdG chemotherapy.


METHODS
A two-stage, descriptive study.


METHODS
Phase 1 comprised semi-structured interviews. Phase 2 surveyed the MdG population. Phase 1 interview data informed the Phase 2 questionnaire. The setting was a West of Scotland Cancer Care Centre and the sample was: Phase 1, a convenience sample of 10 MdG patients; Phase 2, 62 consecutive patients.


RESULTS
A response rate of 93.9% for Phase 2. The majority of PICC-line patients held favourable views towards having a PICC-line and adapted well with minimal disruption to daily life. Concerns were evident regarding coping at home with a PICC-line, chemotherapy spillage, dealing with complex information and the responsibility of patients/carers regarding PICC-line management. Patients preferred ambulatory chemotherapy to in-patient treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
PICC-lines should be considered for more chemotherapy patients but service development is necessary to ensure individual needs are addressed.


CONCLUSIONS
Contributes to the PICC-line literature by providing a national patient perspective on a range of daily living activities (DLAs). PICC-line patients prefer out-patient ambulatory chemotherapy rather than in-patient treatment. The longer a patient has a PICC-line, the more able they are to manage activities such as dressing. Concerns remain over chemotherapy spillage, partner/carer responsibility for PICC-line maintenance and the proper balance between required information and what the patient wants to know.
Molloy
Doreen
D
Nursing, Edith Cowan University, Australia.
Smith
Lorraine N
LN
Aitchison
Tom
T
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018718:Home Infusion Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012606:Scotland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005472:Fluorouracil