SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE PARAMETERS IN THE EVALUATION OF TREATMENT SUCCESS IN ANTIEMETIC PROPHYLAXIS OF CANCER-CHEMOTHERAPY

Background: In most antiemetic trials in patients receiving chemothera py the subjective ratings of patients have not been considered in asse ssing the quality of antiemetic therapy. Based on the concept of self- psychology which implies that the importance of patients' truth and pa tients' experiences should be considered, we tried to establish the re levance and importance of subjective parameters. Patients and Method: 607 courses of PEC chemotherapy (cisplatinum 50 mg/m(2), epirubicin 60 mg/m(2), and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m(2)) in patients with gynaecolo gical malignancy and a high 'emetic risk score' were analysed using th e Rotterdam Symptom Checklist and the GieBener Beschwerdebogen. Result s: Significant correlations between objective and subjective parameter s were found, however, on an individual basis low absolute values of v omiting and nausea episodes do not necessarily reflect patients' quali ty of life during treatment. Conclusions: Patients' subjective well-be ing rather than objective parameters determined tolerability of the tr eatment, and may contribute to patients' decisions as to whether to co ntinue chemotherapy. Thus subjective well-being should be an essential part of clinical trials concerning antiemetic therapy.