Study: Chemotherapy at Home May Improve Compliance

Taking chemotherapy at home is a safe and acceptable alternative to hospital treatment for colorectal cancer patients and may improve compliance with treatment, according to researchers in a study published in the British Medical Journal.

Eighty-seven patients receiving chemotherapy for colon cancer were studied for one year, with 42 treated at an outpatient clinic and 45 treated at home by a trained nurse. The groups were alike in terms of age, sex, site of cancer, and disease stage.

Home chemotherapy appeared to have no effect on the patients' quality of life, but compliance with treatment and patient satisfaction, especially with nursing care, were higher in the home treatment group. Home chemotherapy was not associated with an increased use of health services such as an emergency room, according to the results of the study.

The research suggests that home chemotherapy could be advantageous for patients by increasing satisfaction and compliance with treatment, said the researchers.

Other sources: British Medical Association