Measuring the maintenance of daily life activities using the functional living index-emesis (FLIE) in patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.

Healthcare providers believe they have a positive impact on controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), yet patients still consider CINV to be one of the most distressing side effects of chemotherapy. The effect of CINV on daily activities has been measured using the Functional Living Index-Emesis (FLIE) scale, a validated, nausea- and vomiting-specific, patient-reported outcome instrument comprising nine items in each of two domains. This research explores the potential correlation between reducing CINV and improved quality of life. In clinical trials, patients completed the FLIE questionnaires 24 and 96 hours after receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy and antiemetic therapy using a serotonin receptor antagonist (ondansetron, dolasetron, or palonosetron). Significantly more patients given palonosetron had FLIE scores that reflected lessened impact of nausea on daily life during the acute period (0-24 hours) and of nausea/vomiting during both the acute and delayed periods (days 2-4). These findings strongly suggest that better antiemetic prevention allows patients to maintain their functional status for up to 5 days after chemotherapy.