Perceptions Of Chemotherapy Research Articles

Utilizing Twitter data for analysis of chemotherapy

ObjectiveTwitter has become one of the most popular social media platforms that offers real-world insights to healthy behaviors. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare perceptions about chemotherapy of patients and health-care providers through analysis of chemo-related tweets. Materials and methodsCancer-related Twitter accounts and their tweets were obtained through using Tweepy (Python library). Multiple text classification algorithms were tested to identify the models with best performance in classifying the accounts into individual and organization. Chemotherapy-specific tweets were extracted from historical tweetset, and the content of these tweets was analyzed using topic model, sentiment analysis and word co-occurrence network. ResultsUsing the description in Twitter users’ profiles, the accounts related with cancer were collected and coded as individual or organization. We employed Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) network with GloVe word embeddings to identify the user into individuals and organizations with accuracy of 85.2%. 13, 273 and 14,051 publicly available chemotherapy-related tweets were retrieved from individuals and organizations, respectively. The content of the chemo-related tweets was analyzed by text mining approaches. The tweets from individual accounts pertained to personal chemotherapy experience and emotions. In contrast with the personal users, professional accounts had a higher proportion of neutral tweets about side effects. The information about the assessment of response to chemotherapy was deficient from organizations on Twitter. DiscussionExamining chemotherapy discussions on Twitter provide new lens into content and behavioral patterns associated with treatments for cancer patients. The methodology described herein allowed us to collect relatively large number of health-related tweets over a greater time period and exploit the potential power of social media, which provide comprehensive view on patients’ perceptions of chemotherapy. ConclusionThis study sheds light on using Twitter data as a valuable healthcare data source for helping oncologists (organizations) in understanding patients’ experiences while undergoing chemotherapy, in developing personalize therapy plans, and a supplement to the clinical electronic medical records (EMRs).

Patient experience and perception of chemotherapy in Saudi Arabia

Patient experience and perception of chemotherapy in Saudi Arabia

Electronic medical record (EMR) order sets, counseling, and complementary therapy for chemotherapy induced nausea/vomiting (CINV) control.

e20698 Background: EMR order sets entry can standardize CINV therapy and reduce errors. EMR CINV control, impact of counseling and use of complementary therapies for nutrition and control of CINV are rarely reported. Methods: Patient interview regarding CINV, nutrition education, weight change, and use of other therapies for nutrition and nausea control. Patients initially medicated with parenteral short T1/2 5HT3 antagonist and dexamethasone and oral prochlorperazine. Antiemetics changed at physician discretion. Medical records review for chemotherapy, antiemetics, and weights. Interviews conducted by a research coordinator who did not counsel, prescribe, or treat the patients. Results: 79 patients participated after minimum 2 and maximum 6 cycles of chemotherapy, 24 males and 55 females, age range 38-87 years. 76/79 received moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy. 78/79 reported good control of CINV at the time of interview. 38/79 reported decrease in appetite or dysgeusia associated with chemotherapy. 7 patients had change short to long T1/2 5HT3 antagonist. 9 patients had oral aprepitant added. All patients were prescribed oral prochlorperazine and ondansetron, but home use was not assessed as part of the study. 77/79 recalled dietary counsel, but recollection of source and content was not consistent with curriculum or medical record. 8 patients had weight loss >10 pounds, 4 patients had weight gain >10 pounds during chemotherapy. 18 patients reported weight change at least 10 pounds different from measured change. 28/79 patients used calorie and/or protein supplements. 24/79 used ginger related products. 7/79 reported improvement in dysgeusia or appetite with use of plastic utensils. Conclusions: CINV control can be achieved for most patients with combination antiemetics prescribed by EMR order set. Some patients require additional or alterative therapy. A substantial number of patients access nutritive or complementary therapy for CINV control. Patients’ recall of dietary counseling was poor, possibly related to timing of education. Patient reports and possibly perception of chemotherapy associated weight changes are frequently inaccurate.

Perceptions of chemotherapy influencing treatment decisions in women with hormone-positive tumors.

e19621 Background: Women with hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer can benefit from chemotherapy (CTX). Unnecessary therapy can adversely affect patient morbidity.. While tumor biology affects decision making, patient perception of cancer recurrence is also important. In this study we determine whether women with HR+ tumors (>1cm) who undergo CTX, have stronger beliefs in the efficacy of CTX than women who do not get therapy. Methods: Women participating in a Breast Cancer Patient Assistance Trial in 2006-2010 were surveyed about their cancer knowledge and beliefs about its treatment; charts were abstracted 6 months later to measure treatments received. A Nottingham Prognostic indicator (NPI), which uses stage, tumor size, and lymph node involvement was calculated. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses examined associations between receipt of CTX and tumor stage, NPI, physician recommendation, patient demographics and beliefs about CTX. Results: Women with HR+ tumors 130/211(62%) received CTX and 197/211(93%) received hormonal therapy. Gene array analysis was performed in 46/211 (22%), and of these (7/46 [15%]) had high recurrence scores and received CTX. Women treated with CTX vs those without CTX were younger (mean 52.5 yrs vs 62.3 yrs, p<0.0001), had higher stage cancer (stage II: 65% vs 23%, p<0.0001), worse NPI (poor prognosis:15% vs 2% p<0.0001), more physician recommended CTX (92% vs 34%, p<0.0001) and increased concern about recurrence without CTX (very worried 70% vs 15%; p<0.0001). Multivariate analysis found that physician recommendation, poor NPI and moderate NPI were most strongly associated with receiving CTX [RR= 3.2, (95% CI:1.8-5.6), 1.7, (95%CI:1.3-2.2); 1.6, (95%CI:1.2-2.0)], respectively, followed by women’s worry (RR=1.3; 95%CI: 1.0-1.6), and belief that CTX allows women to live longer (RR=1.1; 95%CI: 1.0 - 1.2). Older age was associated with less use of CTX (RR= 0.99; 95%CI: 0.978-.995). Conclusions: Physician recommendation, disease severity, concerns about recurrence and beliefs about CTX’s effectiveness influence the utilization of CTX in HR+ breast cancer. Patients may benefit from education to make informed decisions.

Owner's perception of carboplatin in conjunction with other palliative treatments for cancer therapy

To determine owner's perception of their pet's quality of life during treatment with carboplatin for a variety of canine and feline neoplasms. Owners were contacted via a postal questionnaire and asked questions regarding their perception of chemotherapy in pets and their perception of carboplatin treatment in their pet. Twenty-eight (59%) of owners responded to the questionnaire. Forty-three percent of owners had not considered chemotherapy in pets before treatment; however, after treatment, 89% of owners supported its use. Sixteen (57%) patients had mild to severe side effects. Most patients experienced mild side effects, including lethargy and loss of appetite. Quality of life during treatment was reduced compared with prediagnosis quality of life however at its best was significantly improved compared with pretreatment quality of life. Eighty-nine per cent of respondents did not regret treating their pet. Carboplatin is well tolerated by both owners and pets. Most patients have either no side effects or experience mild lethargy or inappetence. Carboplatin treatment, either alone or in conjunction with other medications, should be considered as a palliative treatment in both dogs and cats with susceptible neoplasms.

Owners 'perception of their cats' quality of life during COP chemotherapy for lymphoma.

Questionnaires regarding the perceptions of chemotherapy and its impact on the quality of life (QoL) of their cat were received from owners of 31 cats treated for lymphoma between 2002 and 2006 with COP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone) chemotherapy. The QoL scores prior to the onset of cancer (mean 9.5, range 6-10) were significantly higher than the ratings given after the onset of cancer but before commencement of chemotherapy (mean 3.9, range 1-9.4). The QoL scores during chemotherapy (mean 6.3, range 1-10) were also significantly lower than prior to the onset of cancer, but significantly higher during treatment than prior to starting treatment. Adverse effects were experienced by 27 (87%) cats during the course of chemotherapy. Twenty-five (83%) of clients were happy they treated their cat and 27 owners (87%) would treat another cat. The results suggest that COP chemotherapy is perceived by owners to be tolerated by cats.

Cytotoxic chemotherapy for prostate cancer: Who and when?

The survival benefit demonstrated by docetaxel-based therapy in two randomized trials, Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) 99-16 and TAX 327, has changed the perception of chemotherapy in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer from nihilism to optimism. These survival improvements are of similar magnitude to those found in trials that established chemotherapeutic regimens for metastatic breast, lung, or colorectal cancer. The timing of chemotherapy in the aforementioned solid tumors is much more clearly defined than in men with metastatic prostate cancer. Traditionally, chemotherapy in men with hormone-resistant prostate cancer was reserved for symptomatic patients only; the inclusion of symptomatic and asymptomatic patients in SWOG 99-16 and TAX 327 has raised several questions regarding the optimal use of chemotherapy in these patients. When is the best time to initiate docetaxel-based chemotherapy? Is it appropriate to use chemotherapy in high-risk patients as adjuvant therapy? Although retrospective analysis of current trials may provide hypothesis, only properly designed randomized clinical trials will answer these questions.

Using qualitative data to examine disparities in cancer outcomes: Results from interviews with African American (AA) and white (W) patients regarding health beliefs and perceptions of chemotherapy

16016 Background: Prior data indicate African Americans are less likely to receive appropriate and timely therapy for breast, colon, and lung cancers. The reasons for this may involve differences in how AA patients (pts) perceive the risks and benefits of available therapies. In general, little is known about the beliefs of pts, and about AA’s in particular, toward the risks and benefits of chemotherapy. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews are being conducted on pts who have been referred to receive chemotherapy for breast, colon, and lung cancer. Results: To date, 18 patients have been interviewed: 9AA, 9W; median age 61 (range 35–77); 11 lung, 4 breast, 3 colon (11 for adjuvant therapy and 7 with metastatic disease). Pts provided their beliefs on the role of chemotherapy. Many described the advantages of chemotherapy indicating the possibility of cure or remission. Others expressed a degree of skepticism about the curative intent of chemotherapy. Many indicated an expectation of moderate to severe side effects that may have lasting effects on the body. Trust in one’s physician and the role of religion/spirituality are also emerging themes. One AA pt described that chemotherapy was a way for physicians to experiment on patients. Others believed that trust in one’s physician was implicit and essential. Many indicated a belief in God but few believed that his/her religious beliefs affected his/her approach to treatment. Conclusions: Consistent with the health beliefs’ model, perceived benefits and perceived barriers (one’s belief about the tangible and psychological costs of the advised action) shape pts’ perceptions of chemotherapy. In this ongoing analysis, the perceived benefits are tempered by a degree of skepticism. The perceived barriers include concerns about the overall impact of chemotherapy on the body and spirit rather than specific short-term side effects. Also, belief in the use of chemotherapy as an experiment is potentially consistent with some African American patients’ perceptions. No significant financial relationships to disclose.