Abstract
Aim: To provide the gastrointestinal stromal tumor patient's perspective on side effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and compare this with that of healthcare professionals. Materials & methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 patients with an advanced or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor, as well as six healthcare professionals, and five patients participated in a focus group. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. Results: Most participants (n = 29) reported gastrointestinal symptoms followed by tiredness (n = 25), edema (n = 22), muscle cramps (n = 21), skin problems (n = 21), eye problems (n = 11) and trouble sleeping (n = 10). Patients, but not healthcare professionals, reported cognitive problems or symptoms of depression. Conclusion: These results underline the importance of including the patient's perspective, as there is a gap in symptom reporting between patients and healthcare professionals.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 299-314 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Future Oncology |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 11 Apr 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study was supported by a grant from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Group (010-2010). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors.
