Investigation of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity and education needs of cancer patients

Objective: The study was conducted to evaluate the chemotherapy-ınduced peripheral neurotoxicity symptoms in cancer patients, and the education needs for the management of peripheral neurotoxicity symptoms. Materials and Methods: This study is a descriptive research. The study sample consisted of 150 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Data was gathered using Toxicity Criteria of American National Cancer Institute-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and Peripheral Neurotoxicity and Education Needs Evaluation Form. Results: The mean age of patients was 55.06 ± 11.86. Patients were diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancers (35.3%) and breast cancer (42.7%). Sample (32.7%) received chemotherapy agents with neurotoxic effects (taxanes, cisplatin, oxaliplatin, carboplatin). The patients suffered from mild (grade 1) neuralgia (42.7%), paresthesia (48.7%), dysesthesia (24.7%), peripheral motor neuropathy (10%) and peripheral sensory neuropathy (0.7%) complaints. A small portion of the sample suffered from "moderate to severe" grade (grade 2 and 3) of neuralgia (8%), paresthesia (7.3%), dysesthesia (5.3%), peripheral motor (15.3%) and sensory neuropathy associated complaints (20%). More than half of patients (54.7%) reported to protect their finger or toe tips from cold to cope with pain and numbness thereof to keep the fingers warm; avoided touching cold objects (53.3%) such as refrigerators or freezers; and 74% used painkillers recommended by physicians. Conclusion: The findings indicated that patients experienced different degrees of peripheral neurotoxicity symptoms, and needed support in coping with the effects of sensory and motor neurotoxicity symptoms on patients' daily life. Keywords: Cancer, chemotherapy, periferal neurotoxicity, education needs.