Nursing Ιnterventions to Prevent and to Manage Vomiting and Nausea in Children with Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy

Introduction: One of the most well-known symptoms of chemotherapy in children is nausea and vomiting that can adversely affect their health and treatment progress. Several nursing interventions have been supported to prevent and to manage them. Purpose: To investigate nursing interventions to prevent and to manage nausea and vomiting in children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Material and Method: This is a systematic review of the bibliography conducted by searching articles in international bibliographic databases (Medline, Scopus, Embase & Cochrane Library) for the period 2013-2020. The criteria for inclusion of an article in the study were: English language, to be fully relevant to the subject, to sample children or adolescents or young adults with cancer, to be published from 2013-2020, to be published in a valid scientific journal, to be a clinical study. After a systematic and critical review of the articles, 16 articles were included in the study. Results: The results of the articles included in this study show that in recent years there has been a significant increase in studies in the prevention (n=9) and management (n=7) of nausea and vomiting in children with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Five of the studies focus on the use of 5HT3 serotonin receptor antagonists, 4 on the use of NK1 receptor antagonists, 1 on the use of dexamethasone, and 1 on the use of midazolam and diphenhydramine. The other 5 focus on using alternative methods such as probiotic administration, laser acupuncture, massage, acupressure therapy and psychoeducational interventions (relaxation and patient education). Conclusions: Nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy in children can be prevented and managed both by the administration of appropriate anti-emetic drugs and by the use of alternative methods.

Category: Volume 59, N 2
Hits: 978 Hits
Created Date: 15-08-2020
Authors: Agathi Kalogeropoulou , Ioannis Koutelekos , Maria Moschovi , Evangelos Dousis