Evaluation of Compliance to NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology-Antiemesis (Version 1.2014) and Economics of 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists in Preventing Nausea and Vomiting

Objective  To evaluate the compliance to NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology- Antiemesis (Version 1.2014) and the economics of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in preventing nausea and vomiting.

Methods  We selected 175 breast cancer patients who used 5-HT3 receptor antagonists to prevent nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy in Taixing People’s Hospital from June 1,2014 to December 31,2014. We evaluated the daily cost of the patients with different medical insurance according to the compliance to NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology-Antiemesis(Version 1.2014) and then evaluated the economics of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists.

Results  97.71%(171/175) patients had the necessity to use 5-HT3 receptor antagonists; Oncologists selected proper 5-HT3 receptor antagonists for 43.43%(76/175) patients; the time of medication and the combination medication were proper in 66.29%(116/175) and 80.00%(140/175) patients,respectively. The daily cost of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists was low in 42.86% (75/175) patients while 57.14%(100/175) patients’ daily cost was high.

Conclusion  The oncologists in our hospital know NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology-Antiemesis (Version 1.2014) very well in necessity and the time of medication,but the daily cost is high for most patients. The oncologists need to select the lower daily cost of treatment regimen for preventing nausea and vomiting according to the patient’s income level and medical insurance category.