title: Patients' perception of chemotherapy side effects: Expectations, doctor-patient communication and impact on quality of life - An Italian survey.
abstract: Chemotherapy side effects (CSE) have a strong impact on patients' quality of life (QOL). To assess patient perceptions of CSE, their impact on QOL and doctor-patient communication regarding these aspects, a survey was conducted among Italian cancer patients. Patients at least 18 years of age, who received chemotherapy, were administered a dedicated questionnaire to assess their point of view on five domains: expectations about CSE and impact on QOL; doctor-patient communication about CSE; treatments to reduce the impact of CSE; sexual life; family relationships/activities and employment. A total of 761 patients participated. CSE had a considerable impact on patient QOL. Nausea/vomiting was the most feared adverse effect before initiating chemotherapy and the one most commonly experienced during treatment. Patients generally reported good doctor-patient communication regarding information about CSE. In almost all cases, the oncologists prescribed an antiemetic treatment, but the incidence of nausea/vomiting was high. Cancer and CSE severely affected sexual life, daily activities and employment. CSE had a strong negative impact on QOL. Good doctor-patient communication is essential. Improving antiemetic strategies may improve QOL. Doctors' ability to inform patients about delicate issues, such as the impact of CSE on sexual life, needs to be improved.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione IRCCS - Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lorusso
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bria
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, and Italian Society of Psycho-Oncology (SIPO), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University of Turin, and Medical Oncology, Mauriziano Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Maio
authors.affiliation: Oncology, Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rosti
authors.affiliation: Salute Donna (Association for the Prevention and Fight Against Female Cancers), Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mancuso
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010465:Perception; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: chemotherapy side effects; nausea and vomiting; quality of life of life; supportive care