Assessment of the Awareness in Management of Chemotherapy Related Adverse Effects Experienced by Cancer Patients at Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, Sri Lanka
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Date
2020Author
Jayalath, JMAD
Wikramarathne, GNDDZ
Doranegoda, DMNPK
Sanjeewani, NA
Siriwardhene, MA
Balawardhene, KASJ
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Abstract: Cancer accounts for majority of the
disease related deaths all over the world.
Although cancer can be treated with
chemotherapy successfully, the burden of
chemotherapy related side effects makes a
negative impact about the treatment in
patients. The study was carried out in the
purpose of assessment of awareness in
management of chemotherapy related
adverse effects experienced by the cancer
patients at Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, Sri
Lanka. Moreover, it focused on the patients’
knowledge on the disease and the treatment
schedule and the most frequently experienced
side effects by the patients. This is a single
centre descriptive cross-sectional study. The
study population of 155 cancer patients with
multiple carcinomas, attending medical
oncology clinics at Apeksha Hospital was
selected randomly. An interviewer
administered questionnaire was used to
gather information. Collected data was
analysed by SPSS Version 23 software. The
diagnosis of the disease was known by almost
all the participants. The names of the
chemotherapy medicines receiving were fully
known by only one fifth of the total population.
Most commonly experienced adverse effect
among the population was fatigue. Drinking
adequate amount of fluid had been the most
frequently followed instruction in order to
minimize the adverse effects. Discussions with
healthcare professionals were chosen as the
most effective way of having information.
Discomfort due to chemotherapy related
adverse effects may cause delay or early
termination of treatments and increase
unnecessary hospital admissions. A thorough
counselling in managing the adverse effects
accounts a better quality of life to the patient.