Investigation of the relationship between nausea, vomiting and malnutrition levels in hospitalized patients receiving chemotherapy

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between nausea, vomiting and malnutrition in hospitalized patients receiving chemotherapy. 123 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy treatment at the Hematology Service of Dokuz Eylül University Application and Research Hospital were included in the study. Four data collection tools, namely Patient Information Questionnaire Form, Karnofsky Performance Scale, Rhodes Nausea-Vomiting and Regurgitation Index, Nutritional Risk Assessment Scale - 2002 (NRS-2002) were used as data collection forms in the study. Independent groups t-test was used to analyze the data, F-test for comparing more than two groups, one-way analysis of variance ANOVA, Kolmogrov smirnov test, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, Pearson correlation analysis, linear regression analysis were used. Of the patients participating in the study, 43.9% (n=54) were male and 56.1% (n=69) were female. The mean age of the patients was found to be 56.44±17.46 years. It was determined that the patients' Nutritional Deterioration Score was 1.98±0.76, Disease Severity Score was 2.07±0.84, and NRS-2002 Total Scores were 4.06±0.87. Rhodes Nausea, Vomiting and Regurgitation Index score of the patients was calculated to be 25.04±2.79. NRS-2002 Total Scores and Rhodes Nausea, Vomiting and Regurgitation Index scores were found to be significantly higher. There was a statistically positive, very weak and significant correlation between NRS-2002 total scores and Rhodes Nausea, Vomiting and Regurgitation Index scores (p<0.05: r=0.20). As NRS-2002 total scores increase, Rhodes Nausea, Vomiting and Regurgitation Index scores also increase (p<0.05). The Rhodes Nausea, Vomiting and Regurgitation Index scale was found to be statistically significant and explained 43% of the disease severity and nutritional deterioration in the NRS-2002 scale. It was concluded that the presence of nausea and vomiting in hospitalized patients receiving chemotherapy increases the malnutrition status. Nurses should take an active role in the regulation of the nutrition programs of patients with nausea and vomiting and malnutrition, and they should create training programs for these problems and raise awareness on this issue.