A Qualitative Study Into How Patients Deal With Chemotherapy-related Side Effects at Home

A Qualitative Study Into How Patients With Cancer Deal With Chemotherapy-Related Side Effects at Home

This qualitative study explores how patients deal with the side effects from chemotherapy at their home, what factors and ideas influence their symptom self-management and how professional caregivers contribute to the management of their symptoms at home. Data are collected through semi-structured interviews with adult patients treated with chemotherapy and analysed using a Grounded Theory approach.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult (≥18 years) patients with (any type and any stage of) cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy treatment in an ambulatory setting or during short hospital stays
• Dutch speaking
• Able to provide informed consent and to participate in an interview

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who were in the first 2 cycles of treatment
• Patients for whom an interview was considered physically, mentally and/or emotionally too burdensome.
• Patients who had reported not to experience any side effect from treatment at all