title: Impact and management of chemotherapy/radiotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and the perceptual gap between oncologists/oncology nurses and patients: a cross-sectional multinational survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chemotherapy/radiotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV/RINV) can affect half of oncology patients, significantly impacting daily life. Nausea without vomiting has only recently been thought of as a condition in its own right. As such, the incidence of nausea is often underestimated. This survey investigated the incidence and impact of CINV/RINV in patients compared with estimations of physicians/oncology nurses to determine if there is a perceptual gap between healthcare professionals and patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online research survey of physicians, oncology nurses and patients was conducted across five European countries. Participants had to have experience prescribing/recommending or have received anti-emetic medication for CINV/RINV treatment. Questionnaires assessed the incidence and impact of CINV/RINV, anti-emetic usage and compliance, and attribute importance of anti-emetic medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 947 (375 physicians, 186 oncology nurses and 386 patients) participated in this survey. The incidence of nausea was greater than vomiting: 60 % of patients reported nausea alone, whereas 18 % reported vomiting. Physicians and oncology nurses overestimated the incidence of CINV/RINV but underestimated its impact on patients' daily lives. Only 38 % of patients reported full compliance with physicians'/oncology nurses' guidelines when self-administering anti-emetic medication. Leading factors for poor compliance included reluctance to add to a pill burden and fear that swallowing itself would induce nausea/vomiting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a perceptual gap between healthcare professionals and patients in terms of the incidence and impact of CINV/RINV. This may lead to sub-optimal prescription of anti-emetics and therefore management of CINV/RINV. Minimising the pill burden and eliminating the requirement to swallow medication could improve poor patient compliance with anti-emetic regimens.
authors.affiliation: Alcura, Selborne House, Mill Lane, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2QJ, UK.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vidall
authors.affiliation: Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Gran Via l'Hospitalet 199-203, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Paz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fernández-Ortega
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliera San Gerado, Via Pergolesi, 33, 20900, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cortinovis
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Halle (Saale), Ernst-Grube-Str. 30, 06097, Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jahn
authors.affiliation: Norgine Ltd, Norgine House, Widewater Place, Moorhall Road, Uxbridge, UB9 6NS, UK. bamlani@norgine.com.
authors.forename: Bharat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amlani
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology and Supportive Care Cancer Unit, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, 20 Rue Leblanc, 750175, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scotté
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D060828:Induction Chemotherapy; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Anti-emetic; Chemotherapy/radiotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting; Impact; Incidence; Perceptual gap