Eva María Ciruelos1, María Nieves Díaz2, María Dolores Isla3, Rafael López4, Reyes Bernabé5, Encarnación González6, Beatriz Cirauqui7, Juan Coves8, Serafín Morales9, Alberto Arcediano10, Isidoro Barneto11, Pablo Cerezuela12, José Juan Illarramendi13, Cristina Morales11, Santiago Ponce1. 1. Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain. 2. Hospital Universitario San Juan, Alicante, Spain. 3. Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, Spain. 4. Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. 5. Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora del Rocío, Seville, Spain. 6. Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain. 7. ICO Badalona, Badalona, Spain. 8. Hospital Universitari Son Llàtzer, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. 9. Hospital Universitario Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida, Spain. 10. Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Spain. 11. Hospital Provincial Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain. 12. Hospital General Universitario Santa Lucía, Cartagena, Spain. 13. Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Although new therapies against metastatic cancer have been developed in recent decades, chemotherapy is still an important treatment option. Prolonged treatment and side-effects are often discouraging for patients, and in many cases, therapy is only palliative, not curative. This study explores patient preference for oral or intravenous (IV) chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic breast or lung cancer. METHODS: It is a descriptive, open label, multicentre, nation-wide study, in which a 16-item questionnaire consisting of single-choice questions scored on a 5-point Likert scale was administered to patients in a single visit, and another 11-item questionnaire was self-administered by the patient's oncologist. RESULTS: A total of 131 breast and lung cancer specialists at 64 hospitals enrolled 412 patients (lung cancer = 161; breast cancer = 251). To be eligible, patients must have already received IV therapy and at least 2 cycles of oral chemotherapy. Most (77%) patients expressed preference for oral therapy. Most considered their daily life was less disrupted with tablets (70.4%), had no trouble swallowing them (86.9%), and were not concerned about forgetting to take them (56.8%). Half (56.3%) were worried about problems related to drug infusion with IV therapy, 61.7% were concerned about nurses failing to find a suitable vein, and 63.1% were dissatisfied with hospital waiting times. A uniform response was obtained from both samples of patients. CONCLUSION: Convenience, ease of administration, fewer side effects and better quality of life tilt the balance towards oral drug administration.
OBJECTIVES: Although new therapies against metastatic cancer have been developed in recent decades, chemotherapy is still an important treatment option. Prolonged treatment and side-effects are often discouraging for patients, and in many cases, therapy is only palliative, not curative. This study explores patient preference for oral or intravenous (IV) chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic breast or lung cancer. METHODS: It is a descriptive, open label, multicentre, nation-wide study, in which a 16-item questionnaire consisting of single-choice questions scored on a 5-point Likert scale was administered to patients in a single visit, and another 11-item questionnaire was self-administered by the patient's oncologist. RESULTS: A total of 131 breast and lung cancer specialists at 64 hospitals enrolled 412 patients (lung cancer = 161; breast cancer = 251). To be eligible, patients must have already received IV therapy and at least 2 cycles of oral chemotherapy. Most (77%) patients expressed preference for oral therapy. Most considered their daily life was less disrupted with tablets (70.4%), had no trouble swallowing them (86.9%), and were not concerned about forgetting to take them (56.8%). Half (56.3%) were worried about problems related to drug infusion with IV therapy, 61.7% were concerned about nurses failing to find a suitable vein, and 63.1% were dissatisfied with hospital waiting times. A uniform response was obtained from both samples of patients. CONCLUSION: Convenience, ease of administration, fewer side effects and better quality of life tilt the balance towards oral drug administration.