• C Engstrom, I Hernandez, J Haywood, and R Lilenbaum.
• VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, USA. chriseng@gateway.net
• Oncol Nurs Forum. 1999 Oct 1; 26 (9): 1453-8.

Purpose/ObjectivesTo develop antiemetic guidelines to improve efficacy, optimize nursing and pharmacy time, increase compliance, and enhance cost savings.DesignProspective, descriptive survey.SettingOutpatient oncology clinic in a large metropolitan city in the mid-Atlantic United States.Sample90 patients were evaluated for the study; 52 patients met the eligibility criteria.MethodsA standard antiemetic form was developed containing the emetogenic classification of the chemotherapeutic drugs and the recommended antiemetic regimen. A patient diary and visual analog scale measured patient satisfaction with the regimen-measured outcomes.Main Research VariablesEpisodes of nausea and vomiting, classification of chemotherapeutic drugs, and patient satisfaction.FindingsSeventy-nine percent of patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy demonstrated complete protection from nausea and vomiting during the first 24 hours post-therapy. All the patients receiving moderately and mildly emetogenic regimens achieved complete protection. Patients who received cisplatin-containing regimens and were on the delayed regimen of antiemetics demonstrated complete protection on days two through seven. The mean overall score for patient satisfaction with the regimen was 89 mm on a 100 mm visual analog scale.ConclusionsThe new oral antiemetic regimen compared favorably with published data, was well-tolerated, and resulted in lower pharmacy and nursing costs, with a cost saving potential of $20,000 per year.Implications For Nursing PracticeOncology nurses must be able to implement state-of-the-art knowledge of chemotherapy, antiemetics, and nonpharmacologic interventions to effectively manage the care of patients receiving chemotherapy. This must be performed to achieve cost effectiveness as well as useful clinical outcomes.

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