through force of habit and some
do not participate actively in
upgrading their practices. Hence,
the development of antiemetic
guidelines can overcome all the
above informational and practice
delivery issues by providing
readily available evidence-based
statements of antiemetic treatment
options.
Conclusions
Generally speaking, 20–30% of
patients receiving chemotherapy
and receiving standard antiemetics
will experience vomiting and about
half will experience nausea, with
vomiting being better controlled
than nausea and acute nausea and
vomiting being better controlled
than delayed symptoms. Hence,
this area of supportive care is still
not optimal, despite the significant
investment in antiemetic drug
research and development and the
introduction of newer and more
potent antiemetics. The use of
antiemetic guidelines will ensure
that the care provided to cancer
patients is based on evidence,
improves health outcomes and
potentially decreases costs.
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