IGestSaude – Self-management of symptoms in person undergoing chemotherapy treatment: A consensus study

Abstract

Chemotherapy treatment has the potential to cause a set of adverse symptoms, with significant repercussions on the person’s well-being and quality of life, giving rise to specific health care needs.   Objective: To gather a consensus, with a group of experts, about therapeutic guidelines supporting selfmanagement of symptoms anorexia, pain, diarrhea and constipation associated with chemotherapy treatment.   Method: Quantitative, descriptive study, developed using Delphi technique, in three rounds, with a panel of 22 nurses, experts in oncological disease/intervention in person undergoing chemotherapy treatment.   Results and discussion: The consensus obtained allowed the validation of 98.8% of the therapeutic guidelines proposed, prevailing high level of consensus, with only two therapeutic guidelines not reaching consensus and none meeting exclusion criteria. The consensual therapeutic guidelines for anorexia, pain, diarrhea and constipation symptoms associated with chemotherapy treatment are essentially directed to dietary, drug and physical activity regimes management.   Conclusion: The therapeutic guidelines agreed by the group of experts may contribute to the acquisition of skills that allow the person to ensure their self-care in the most autonomous way possible, empowering them in the process of self-management of anorexia, pain, diarrhea and constipation symptoms, associated with chemotherapy treatment.