Oral Chemotherapy and Patient Perspective in Solid Tumors: A National Survey by the Italian Association of Medical Oncology. Issue 1 (January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aurilio, Gaetano; Gori, Stefania; Nolè, Franco; Pruneri, Giancarlo; Coati, Francesca; Torri, Valter; Lunardi, Gianluigi; Atzori, Francesco; La Verde, Nicla; Banna, Giuseppe Luigi; Rossi, Antonio; Del Mastro, Lucia; Di Fabio, Francesca; Marcon, Ilaria; Gebbia, Vittorio; Loupakis, Fotios; Orlando, Laura; Ciuffreda, Libero; Amadio, Placido; Luppi, Gabriele; Redana, Stefania; Filippelli, Gianfranco; Gentile, Annalisa; Collovà, Elena
• Is Part Of: Tumori. Volume 102:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 108
• Page End: 113
• Publication Date: 2016-01
• Subjects: IV chemotherapy -- Oral chemotherapy -- Patient perspective -- Questionnaire -- Treatment; Cancer -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.5301/tj.5000383
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-8916

Abstract

Aim: To assess patient perception toward oral chemotherapy for solid tumors, the Italian Association of Medical Oncology performed a large multi-institutional national survey. Methods: A 17-item anonymous questionnaire including 7 general and 10 investigational questions with free-text, single-choice, or multiple-choice answers was administered. Analysis of response distribution according to predefined factors was described by summary measures and conducted by χ 2 test and other nonparametric tests. Results: From January to June 2010, 581 patients completed the questionnaire; data of 404 patients constituted the final study sample. Three groups could be distinguished according to treatment: IV chemotherapy (IV group, n = 313), oral chemotherapy (oral group, n = 48), or combined therapy (combined group, n = 43). Thirty-one (72%) patients in the combined group and 187 (60%) in the IV group expressed preference for oral therapy (p = 0.028). Limitations in family and work commitment were more frequently perceived by patients on IV than oral chemotherapy (147 (47%) vs 14 (29%) patients, p<0.05, and 134 (43%) vs 11 (23%) patients, p<0.05). A total of 134 (43%) patients on IV chemotherapy versus 15 (31%) patients in the oral group did not point out any limitation for number of tablets per day (p = 0.004). Conclusions: We observed a propensity from the patient perspective in favor of oral chemotherapy that was considered to have a lower impact on family and work commitments than IV chemotherapy. The treatment that patients were taking when the questionnaire was administered likely influenced their perception and related results.