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Home care—a safe and attractive alternative to inpatient administration of intensive chemotherapies

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Abstract

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate feasibility, safety, perception, and costs of home care for the administration of intensive chemotherapies.

Methods

Patients receiving sequential chemotherapy in an inpatient setting, living within 30 km of the hospital, and having a relative to care for them were offered home care treatment. Chemotherapy was administered by a portable, programmable pump via an implantable catheter. The main endpoints were safety, patient’s quality of life [Functional Living Index—Cancer (FLIC)], satisfaction of patients and relatives, and costs.

Results

Two hundred days of home care were analysed, representing a total of 46 treatment cycles of intensive chemotherapy in 17 patients. Two cycles were complicated by technical problems that required hospitalisation for a total of 5 days. Three major medical complications (heart failure, angina pectoris, and major allergic reaction) could be managed at home. Grades 1 and 2 nausea and vomiting occurring in 36% of patients could be treated at home. FLIC scores remained constant throughout the study. All patients rated home care as very satisfactory or satisfactory. Patient benefits of home care included increased comfort and freedom. Relatives acknowledged better tolerance and less asthenia of the patient. Home care resulted in a 53% cost benefit compared to hospital treatment (€420 ± 120/day vs. €896 ± 165/day).

Conclusion

Administration of intensive chemotherapy regimens at home was feasible and safe. Quality of life was not affected; satisfaction of patients and relatives was very high. A psychosocial benefit was observed for patients and relatives. Furthermore, a cost–benefit of home care compared to hospital treatment was demonstrated.

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Acknowledgements

This study was partially funded by a grant from the University Hospital

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial or personal relation with other people or organisations that could have inappropriately influenced the planning, conduct or analysis of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre Pluridisciplinaire d’Oncologie, University Hospital—CHUV, BH06 Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    François Lüthi, Nadia Fucina, Nathalie Divorne, Christine Currat-Zweifel, Nicolas Ketterer & Serge Leyvraz

  2. Institut Universitaire de Médecine sociale et préventive, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Brigitte Santos-Eggimann

  3. Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Patricia Rollier & Jean-Blaise Wasserfallen

Authors
  1. François Lüthi
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  2. Nadia Fucina
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  3. Nathalie Divorne
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  4. Brigitte Santos-Eggimann
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  5. Christine Currat-Zweifel
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  6. Patricia Rollier
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  7. Jean-Blaise Wasserfallen
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  8. Nicolas Ketterer
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  9. Serge Leyvraz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Serge Leyvraz.

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Lüthi, F., Fucina, N., Divorne, N. et al. Home care—a safe and attractive alternative to inpatient administration of intensive chemotherapies. Support Care Cancer 20, 575–581 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1125-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1125-9

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