Symptom Support During Chemotherapy: A Mixed Method Study in Adult Patients With Cancer

Symptom Support During Chemotherapy: A Mixed Method Study in Adult Patients With Cancer

This study evaluates the value of a nursing symptom support en selfmanagement intervention for adult patients with cancer treated with chemotherapy. Using a prospective sequential design with a comparison group who receives standard care and a (later) intervention group who gets the nursing intervention, we will evaluate the effect of this nursing intervention on overall symptom distress (primary outcome) and other measures of symptom burden, self-efficacy, outcome expectations and self-care. By conducting sem-structured interviews with some participants of the intervention group, we will study the patient experience of the intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients starting first line treatment with (intravenous) chemotherapy
• Ambulatory patients or patients who receive their treatment during short hospital stays
• Regardless of type of cancer, treatment or treatment intention (curative or palliative)
• Who understand sufficiently Dutch to fill out questionnaires
• Who sign informed consent for their participation in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Oral anticancer treatment
• Concomitant chemoradiotherapy
• Breast cancer patients who receive nurse counseling throughout their therapy
• Experimental therapy in the context of a clinical trial