Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and adherence to antiemetic guidelines: results of a survey of oncology nurses.

Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) can be prevented in most patients with use of guideline-recommended antiemetic regimens. However, studies have suggested that adherence to antiemetic guidelines is suboptimal. Oncology nurses, as part of a multidisciplinary team, can help promote appropriate antiemetic prophylaxis.

Maternal 25(OH)D concentrations ≥40 ng/mL associated with 60% lower preterm birth risk among general obstetrical patients at an urban medical center.

Background: Given the high rate of preterm birth (PTB) nationwide and data from RCTs demonstrating risk reduction with vitamin D supplementation, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) implemented a new standard of care for pregnant women to receive vitamin D testing and supplementation.

Objectives: To determine if the reported inverse relationship between maternal 25(OH)D and PTB risk could be replicated at MUSC, an urban medical center treating a large, diverse population.

Methods: Medical record data were obtained for pregnant patients aged 18-45 years between September 2015 and December 2016.

Left behind: cancer disparities in the developed world.

Huge advances have been made in cancer treatments over recent decades; however, significant disparities still exist in the developed world on the basis of race, socioeconomic status, education level, geographical location, and immigration status and in the United States, insurance status. Cancer disparities persist in the continuum of cancer care from risk factors, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care. The causes of disparities are complex and multifactorial.

Assessment and measurement of medication adherence: oral agents for cancer.

Background: Clinicians are challenged to find ways to assess and measure adherence to oral agents for cancer (OACs).

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to report on available ways to assess and measure medication adherence by patients with cancer.

Methods: Tools examined include the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) and the Adherence Estimator, which are able to predict risk of nonadherence.

Analysis of aprepitant for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting with moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapy.

Aim: This study aimed to determine how aprepitant affects the impact of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) on daily activities during highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC) or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC).

Patients & Methods: Patients received aprepitant plus standard antiemetic therapy (ondansetron plus dexamethasone) or standard antiemetic therapy alone. Data were analyzed from pooled data of two Phase III randomized, double-blind HEC trials and one MEC trial.

Consensus recommendations for the prevention of vomiting and nausea following high-emetic-risk chemotherapy.

In this update of our 2005 document, we used an evidence-based approach whenever possible to formulate recommendations, emphasizing the results of controlled trials concerning the best use of antiemetic agents for the prevention of emesis and nausea following anticancer chemotherapies of high emetic risk. A three-drug combination of a 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor (5-HT(3)) receptor antagonist, dexamethasone, and aprepitant beginning before chemotherapy and continuing for up to 4 days remains the standard of care. We address issues of dose, schedule, and route of administration of five selective 5-HT(3) receptor antagonists.

Acute emesis: moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.

This paper is a review of the recommendations for the prophylaxis of acute emesis induced by moderately emetogenic chemotherapy as concluded at the third Perugia Consensus Conference, which took place in June 2009. The review will focus on new studies appearing since the Second consensus conference in April 2004. The following issues will be addressed: dose and schedule of antiemetics, different groups of antiemetics such as corticosteroids, serotonin(3) receptor antagonists, dopamine(2) receptor antagonists, and neurokinin(1) receptor antagonists.

Antiemetic therapy for multiple-day chemotherapy and additional topics consisting of rescue antiemetics and high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant: review and consensus statement.

This paper will evaluate various topics related to chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The results published reflect a consensus conference convened in Perugia, Italy. The topics discussed include antiemetic therapy of multiple-day chemotherapy, high-dose chemotherapy, and rescue antiemetics.

An oral history of MASCC, its origin and development from MASCC's beginnings to 2009.

Introduction: This paper presents an oral history from the mid-1980s to 2009 of the start and evolution of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) as seen through the recollections of the founders and early leaders. The growth of the supportive cancer care movement and MASCC's contribution to oncology supportive care is described.

Discussion: As science was making progress towards better cancer treatment, a group of professionals began to research ways to prevent or mitigate the symptoms and side effects that accompany the disease and its treatments.

Psychosocial care for patients and their families is integral to supportive care in cancer: MASCC position statement.

This position paper, written on behalf of the MASCC Psychosocial Study Group, reviews the most common psychosocial concerns and needs of cancer patients during all phases of the cancer continuum, from diagnosis to death or survivorship. Developments in psychosocial care at both individual and systems levels are surveyed and summarized, along with gaps in knowledge and research and needed improvements in the dissemination and application of acquired knowledge and expertise. The roles of culture, spirituality, and religion as part of psychosocial care are reviewed, along with families' and caregivers' specific psychosocial concerns and needs, and areas of needed psychosocial interventions in supportive cancer care.

Development of the MASCC Teaching Tool for Patients Receiving Oral Agents for Cancer.

Background: Oral agents for cancer treatment commonly are prescribed throughout the world. Since oral agents usually are self-administered or administered by lay caregivers, patient education is vital to help ensure that the oral agents are being stored, handled, and taken correctly. When oral agents are taken as prescribed and patients are well informed about signs and symptoms to report, patient outcomes are optimized.

Preterm birth prevention by 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate vs. daily nursing surveillance.

Objective: To compare the incidence of spontaneous recurrent preterm delivery (SPTD) between women receiving 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P) and women receiving daily perinatal nursing surveillance (dPNS) with home uterine activity monitoring.

Study Design: Women enrolled for dPNS or weekly nursing visits with 17P injection were eligible. Included were singletons with previous SPTD, without preterm labor (PTL), cerclage or vaginal bleeding and < 27 weeks at enrollment.

South Carolina Partners for Preterm Birth Prevention: a regional perinatal initiative for the reduction of premature birth in a Medicaid population.

Objective: The objective of the study was to improve the distribution of preterm deliveries in a Medicaid population through a regional perinatal risk assessment and case management initiative.

Study Design: An innovative public/private partnership was initiated in the 8 county Lowcountry (LC) perinatal region to reduce preterm birth (PTB) among Medicaid recipient women. Eligible women were identified and underwent telephonic risk assessment, education, and access to a 24 hours, 7 days per week perinatal hotline.

Women receiving 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate hospitalized for preterm labor at less than 34 weeks benefit from daily perinatal nursing surveillance.

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare pregnancy outcomes of women receiving 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P) prophylaxis for the prevention of recurrent spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) hospitalized for preterm labor (PTL) less than 34 weeks' gestation prescribed daily vs weekly perinatal nursing surveillance.

Study Design: Singleton gestations with prior SPTD enrolled for outpatient 17P administration at less than 27 weeks' gestation were eligible. Women hospitalized for PTL at less than 34 weeks (n = 379) were identified.

Role of the nurse in patient education and follow-up of people receiving oral chemotherapy treatment: an international survey.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the nursing role in education and follow-up of patients who were taking oral chemotherapy (CT) and to identify the worldwide gap in patient education about oral CT.

Materials And Methods: Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer members were invited to participate in a survey on oral CT. Nurse coordinators collected data via a 16-item questionnaire.

A prospective observational study of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in routine practice in a UK cancer centre.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess levels of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in routine practice.

Materials And Methods: The study was an observational prospective evaluation using patient self-reports. One hundred and two patients with cancer in a single cancer centre in UK receiving their first chemotherapy treatment participated in the study and were followed up over four cycles, providing a total of 272 assessments of nausea and vomiting.

Clinical characteristics of women prescribed 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate in the community setting.

Objective: The objective of the study was to describe clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of women in a community setting prescribed 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P) prophylaxis for prevention of preterm delivery (PTD).

Study Design: A retrospective review was conducted of data collected from patients enrolled for weekly outpatient 17P administration and nursing assessment between April 2004 and January 1, 2006 (n = 1979). Pregnancy history, referral indication, labor/delivery onset (spontaneous or indicated), and gestational duration were identified.

Validation and psychometric assessment of a short clinical scale to measure chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: the MASCC antiemesis tool.

There is a lack of clinical tools to facilitate communication between clinicians and patients about chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) has developed such a tool, which is an eight-item scale for the assessment of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting, and is completed once per cycle of chemotherapy. The aim of the current study was to assess its psychometric properties, specifically reliability and validity, cultural transferability and equivalence, and congruence with proxy assessments, as well as to determine if accuracy of recall of CINV events using the MASCC Antiemesis Tool (MAT) differed over time from chemotherapy.