EXPLORING PATIENTS' UNDERSTANDING OF CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AT THE BEGINNING OF NEUROTOXIC CHEMOTHERAPY INITIATION

• Published in: Oncology nursing forum Vol. 49; no. 2; p. 54
• Main Authors: Knoerl, Robert, Gewandter, Jennifer, Reyes, Kaitlen, Salehi, Elahe, Thornton, Katherine, Berry, Donna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pittsburgh Oncology Nursing Society 01.03.2022
• Subjects: Chemotherapy; Neurotoxicity; Oncology; Peripheral neuropathy; Symptom management
• ISSN: 0190-535X; 1538-0688

Approximately 70% of individuals receiving neurotoxic cancer treatment (e.g., taxanes or platinums) will develop chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a dose-limiting and disabling side effect. Little is known about patients level of understanding of CIPN at chemotherapy initiation that would enable them to effectively identify and report symptoms to clinicians during chemotherapy. The purpose of this cross-sectional analysis was to describe knowledge and education patterns surrounding CIPN among adults beginning neurotoxic chemotherapy. Adults who had received fewer than three infusions of neurotoxic chemotherapy at the time of consent were eligible for participation from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Participants completed a REDCap questionnaire that prompted respondents to describe the symptoms and frequency of CIPN and CIPN education received from their clinician. Participants responses to each question were described. Participants (N=67) were mainly female (78%), white (91%), diagnosed with breast (48%) or gastrointestinal (36%) cancers, and experiencing = mild CIPN severity (45%). About a third of participants (24/65, 37%) reported that CIPN occurs in<30% of adults receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy. Participants without CIPN (n=37) were less likely to expect to develop CIPN during treatment than participants with = mild CIPN (n=30) at the time of the survey (30% vs. 77%). Participants without CIPN (n=37) were also more likely to be unaware of CIPN as a side effect than participants with = mild CIPN (n=30) (35% vs. 3%). Prior to beginning treatment, 72% (46/67) of participants reported receiving education about CIPN from their doctor or nurse. Most participants received education about CIPN symptoms (43/46, 93%) and when to report CIPN during treatment (25/46, 54%). Conversely, fewer participants reported receiving education about CIPN management (8/46, 17%) or the impact of CIPN on chemotherapy dosing (10/46, 22%) or physical functioning (14/46, 30%). Results revealed that a substantial proportion of participants beginning neurotoxic chemotherapy were unaware of the incidence or adverse consequences of CIPN. Few quantitative studies have explored patients education and knowledge patterns surrounding CIPN prior to neurotoxic chemotherapy. The findings provide impetus for the development of CIPN education interventions to increase patients activation in CIPN self-management behaviors. The development of interventions to promote patient-clinician education and communication about CIPN during treatment are needed to promote the early identification and management of CIPN to decrease the likelihood of chronic CIPN development.