[Comparative evaluation of 2 antiemesis tools for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting]

Although recent advances in chemotherapy have led to improved quality of life(QOL)and prolonged survival in patients with advanced cancer, treatment is often discontinued because of adverse events associated with chemotherapy, regardless of its efficacy.Nevertheless, chemotherapy has been validated in the United States and United Kingdom and is used worldwide. In Japan, few reports have been published regarding the use of assessment tools including the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer(MASCC)Antiemesis Tool(MAT)for the evaluation of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting(CINV).We prospectively investigated the utility of the MAT and digestive symptom diary(DSD).In total, 68 patients who underwent highly and moderately emetogenic chemotherapy were included in the efficacy analyses.The improvement in the control of CINV during the delayed phase was significantly different between the DSD and MAT groups(p= 0.0148).The results obtained using the MAT warrant further validation.Meanwhile, the DSD may be used as an information tool by medical staff and patients.