Oxaliplatin induced neurotoxicity among patients with colorectal cancer : documentation in medical records - a pilot study

• Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) can have chemotherapy with oxaliplatin postoperatively.Oxaliplatin can cause acute and chronic neurotoxicity. It is important to be aware of neurotoxicside effects so they can be documented and action taken at an early stage. The study aimed toidentify and explore neurotoxic side effects documented in the medical records of patients withcolorectal cancer treated with oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy. Data in this study weremedical records; presenting documentation about patients treated at the University Hospital inthe south of Sweden between 2009 and 2010. A summative content analysis approach was used toexplore the neurotoxic side effects. Identification and quantification of the content of medical recordswere carried out by using a study-specific protocol. “Cold sensitivity” and “tingling in thehands” were the most frequently documented neurotoxicity-related terms in the medical records.This identification was followed by interpretation. Three categories were identified in the interpretivepart of the study: acute, chronic, and degree of neurotoxicity. The results show the importanceof awareness of neurotoxic side effects so that they can be documented and action taken atan early stage. The documentation could be more reliable if patient-reported structured measurementswere used, combined with free descriptions in the medical records. Being able to followthe progression of the symptoms during and after treatment would improve patient’s safety andalso quality of life. The protocol that we developed and used in this review of medical records maybe helpful to structure the documentation in the electronic system for documentation of neurotoxicityside effects. 

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adjuvant Oxaliplatin Chemotherapy

Colorectal Cancer

Medical Record Review

Neurotoxicity

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