Experience of patients with lung cancer and with targeted therapy-related skin adverse drug reactions: A qualitative study

OBJECTIVE: To explore the experience of non-small-cell lung cancer patients with targeted therapy-related skin adverse drug reactions. METHODS: This is a descriptive quantitative study conducted in a comprehensive hospital in Henan, China. Purposive sampling was used to recruit patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and with targeted therapy-related skin adverse drug reactions. In total, 23 patients were approached when the data were saturated. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by an independent researcher using a semi-structured interview guide. Interview data were transcribed and analyzed by qualitative inductive content analysis. RESULTS: Based on the analysis, four main categories were identified according to patients’ descriptions of their experience: a lack of self-management ability, psychological and emotional problems, a barrier to social participation, and a need for social support. Suffering from persistent symptoms, insufficient knowledge, skills and strategies for skin adverse drug reaction management, psychological problems, social avoidance/withdrawal, and reduced willingness to work were core experiences that would affect patients' compliance with treatment, prognosis, and the overall quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the real experience of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and with targeted therapy-related skin adverse drug reactions which contributed to the development of targeted interventions to manage skin adverse reactions.