The effect of using an interactive mobile application for the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in children: randomized controlled study

Abstract

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop an interactive mobile application called 5inD, and investigate the effect of 5inD on the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in pediatric oncology patients. Methods: The prospective, parallel-group and randomized controlled study was conducted in a university hospital between October 2019 and January 2021 with 57 children aged 8-18 years who were treated with chemotherapy and their mothers. In this study, a mobile application called "5inD" was developed, which includes five distraction methods to reduce CINV. Data were collected about CINV through the Adapted Rhodes Index for Nausea & Vomiting child version (ARINVc), and parent version (ARINVp). CINV of the children was evaluated for seven days starting from the first day of chemotherapy. Results: In the study, Child ARINVc and Parent ARINVp mean scores of the intervention groups were lower than the control group during the seven days (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the group's Adapted Rhodes Index of Nausea and Vomiting for Pediatrics by Child (ARINVc) and by Parent (ARINVp) mean scores in terms of the group, time, and group*time interaction. While a statistically significant difference was found between the intervention group's and control group's mean scores in terms of the group, time, and group*time for the acute CINV (p < 0.05), there was no statistically significant difference for delayed CINV between groups scores in terms of the time, and group*time interaction (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study supports the findings that the interactive mobile application was found effective in reducing CINV in children. Additionally, it can be said 5inD is more effective for the management of acute CINV than delayed CINV.