title: Knowledge and practice among Hong Kong oncology nurses in the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine nurses' roles in the prevention and management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), and to identify their related educational needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with a self-reported survey completed by 103 oncology nurses caring for and administering chemotherapy to cancer patients in the department of oncology in three Hong Kong public hospitals. The survey was developed to identify key issues pertinent to the role of nurses in managing CINV. Data were collected from the following areas (a) demographics, (b) assessment of CINV, (c) CINV management and (d) barriers and facilitators to good CINV practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only a third of respondents performed a CINV assessment before starting chemotherapy, and more than 40% reported that the use of a standardised assessment tool was uncommon. Nearly half recognised that they had inadequate knowledge of different aspects of CINV, but the majority could clearly state the most common pharmacological agents used to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea (88.3%) and vomiting (87.4%). The barriers respondents most frequently encountered in CINV prevention and management were lack of time and a heavy workload. Adopting a standardised CINV assessment tool and management protocol together with further professional training were identified as the major facilitators in improving CINV prevention and management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Respondents perceived their knowledge of CINV prevention and management as inadequate. There is a need to adopt a standardised assessment tool, to develop a management protocol and to introduce further professional training to meet the expanding needs of both patients and nurses.
authors.affiliation: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. winnieso@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Winnie K W
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Dorothy N S
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Helen Y L
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Meinir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krishnasamy
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Joe C K
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Sanchia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aranda
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000451:nursing*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000451:nursing*