title: Compliance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network anti-emesis guidelines in a Community Hospital Cancer Center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nausea and vomiting are common adverse events exhibited by patients receiving chemotherapy. Prophylactic use of anti-emetic agents has been shown to reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Compliance with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network anti-emesis guidelines (Version 1.2013) by practitioners in a community out-patient hospital (Blount Memorial Hospital) has been reviewed and the results are presented herein.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of patients receiving their first cycle of chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 487 patients were reviewed from January 2005 to July 2012. In total, 70 patients were categorized in the high-risk category, 292 patients were categorized in the moderate-risk category, 60 patients were categorized in the low-risk category, and 65 patients were categorized in the minimal-risk category as per the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Included patients were being administered the first cycle of their first treatment at Blount Memorial Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected retrospectively from patient chemotherapy dispensing folders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 63% of the patients received appropriate anti-emetic prophylaxis medications as per the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Post-comparison between outcomes based on the risk category showed that patients in the moderate-risk category were most likely (91%) and patients in the low-risk category were least likely (6.67%) to receive appropriate anti-emetic prophylaxis as per the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall compliance with guidelines is acceptable. Patients in the moderate risk category are most likely to receive appropriate anti-emetic prophylaxis.
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Pharmacy, Knoxville, TN, USA ddaniel4@uthsc.edu.
authors.forename: Divya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Pharmacy, Maryville TN, USA Blount Memorial Hospital, Maryville TN, USA.
authors.forename: Aubrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waddell
mesh_terms: D000932:Antiemetics / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010045:Outpatients; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: National Comprehensive Cancer Network; anti-emesis; community hospital; compliance