Graduation Year

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.S.

Degree Granting Department

Nursing

Major Professor

Susan C. McMillan, Ph.D., A.R.N.P.

Committee Member

Cindy Tofthagen, Ph.D., A.R.N.P.

Committee Member

Laurie Stark, R.N., M.S.

Keywords

Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy, Cancer Oncology, Nursing, Functional Status

Abstract

This study examined the association between neuropathy limitations and depression in chemotherapy patients currently on treatment with a taxane-based, platinum-based or plant alkaloid chemotherapy drug.

The Overall Neuropathy Limitations Scale (ONLS) and the Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form (BDI-SF) were used to assess neuropathy limitations and depression in 24 chemotherapy patients with reported symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Average age of patients was 65 years, 66.6% were female, and average number of chemotherapy cycles completed was 5.6. Of the 24 patients, 37.5% of patients were on a single agent taxane-based drug, 37.5% of patients were on a taxane-based drug with a platinum based drug, 16.6% of patients were on a plant alkaloid, and 8.3% were on a combination of a taxane-based and another non-neurotoxic chemotherapy drug.

The scores on both the BDI-SF and ONLS were very low. The mean score on the BDI-SF was 4.1 with a standard deviation of 2.7. The mean score on the ONLS was 2.2 with a standard deviation of 1.5. The study showed a non-significant relationship between neuropathy limitations and depression in chemotherapy patients.

These findings show no association between neuropathy limitations and depression. Although all of these patients had symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, they were not severe enough to interfere with daily activities. The lack of relationship was not unexpected given the low scores on both the BDI-SF and ONLS. Future research should re-evaluate this relationship with a larger, more diverse sample.

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