Individualized Education for Bortezomib-Related Symptom Management in Multiple Myeloma

August 19, 2026 updated by: Can Lafci

Investigation of the Effect of Education Given to Patients With Multiple Myeloma on Symptom Severity

This study evaluated an individualized, nurse-delivered education program for managing treatment-related symptoms in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma receiving bortezomib for the first time. A total of 40 patients participated. Twenty patients received two individual education sessions in addition to routine care, while 20 patients in the control group received routine care. The education focused on recognition, prevention, and management of common bortezomib-related symptoms, including peripheral neuropathy, pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, anemia, bleeding risk, infection risk, and dyspnea. Treatment-related symptoms were assessed before treatment and education (baseline), on day 21, and on day 63. The study aimed to evaluate whether individualized patient education was associated with differences in the occurrence and severity of treatment-related symptoms over time.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

49

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Istanbul
      • İzmir, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34854
        • Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Berna Türek Chemotherapy Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18 years or older
  • Newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma
  • Scheduled to receive bortezomib 1.3 mg/m² on days 1, 4, 8, and 11
  • Able to communicate
  • Able to read and write
  • Willing to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Younger than 18 years
  • Presence of a disease or condition that could affect the nervous system, such as brain metastasis or diabetes
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Unstable vital signs
  • History of alcohol use
  • Communication impairment
  • Unwilling to participate in the study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Individualized Education Group
Participants received two individualized, nurse-delivered education sessions in addition to routine care. The education addressed recognition, prevention, and management of common bortezomib-related symptoms. Written and visual educational materials were used, and participants were encouraged to monitor symptoms and contact the researcher when needed.
Behavioral: Individualized Nurse-Delivered Education Program
The intervention consisted of two individualized education sessions delivered by the researcher using a Care and Treatment Guide for Patients and Families. The program addressed multiple myeloma and management of bortezomib-related peripheral neuropathy, pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, anemia, bleeding risk, infection risk, and dyspnea. Written and visual materials were used. The second session reinforced topics that were not fully understood, encouraged symptom monitoring with a diary, and provided telephone access to the researcher.
No Intervention: Routine Care Control Group
Participants received routine care during the study follow-up period without the individualized education intervention. The education booklet was provided after the final study assessment on day 63.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Motor Neuropathy Severity Assessed by NCI-CTC Version 2.0
Time Frame: Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Motor neuropathy severity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) Version 2.0 motor neuropathy grading scale. Severity was graded from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating no motor neuropathy and higher grades indicating greater severity; grade 4 indicates paralysis.
Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Sensory Neuropathy Severity Assessed by NCI-CTC Version 2.0
Time Frame: Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Sensory neuropathy severity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) Version 2.0 sensory neuropathy grading scale. Severity was graded from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating no sensory neuropathy and higher grades indicating greater symptom severity.
Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Abdominal Pain Severity Assessed by NCI-CTC Version 2.0
Time Frame: Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Abdominal pain severity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) Version 2.0 abdominal pain grading scale. Severity was graded from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating no abdominal pain and higher grades indicating greater severity; grade 4 indicates life-threatening severity.
Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Nausea Severity Assessed by NCI-CTC Version 2.0
Time Frame: Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Nausea severity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) Version 2.0 nausea grading scale. Severity was graded from 0 to 3, with 0 indicating no nausea and higher grades indicating greater symptom severity.
Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Vomiting Severity Assessed by NCI-CTC Version 2.0
Time Frame: Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Vomiting severity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) Version 2.0 vomiting grading scale. Severity was graded from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating no vomiting and higher grades indicating greater symptom severity; grade 4 indicates life-threatening severity.
Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Diarrhea Severity Assessed by NCI-CTC Version 2.0
Time Frame: Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Diarrhea severity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) Version 2.0 diarrhea grading scale. Severity was graded from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating no diarrhea and higher grades indicating greater symptom severity.
Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Constipation Severity Assessed by NCI-CTC Version 2.0
Time Frame: Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Constipation severity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) Version 2.0 constipation grading scale. Severity was graded from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating no constipation and higher grades indicating greater symptom severity; grade 4 indicates obstruction or toxic megacolon.
Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Fatigue Severity Assessed by NCI-CTC Version 2.0
Time Frame: Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Fatigue severity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) Version 2.0 fatigue grading scale. Severity was graded from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating no fatigue and higher grades indicating greater symptom severity.
Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Dyspnea Severity Assessed by NCI-CTC Version 2.0
Time Frame: Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63
Dyspnea severity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) Version 2.0 dyspnea grading scale. Severity was graded from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating no dyspnea and higher grades indicating greater symptom severity; grade 4 indicates dyspnea at rest or a need for ventilatory support.
Baseline before treatment and education, Day 21, and Day 63

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Can Lafci

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 5, 2018

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 31, 2018

Study Completion (Actual)

August 31, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 15, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 15, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

August 19, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 19, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • EGE-MASTER_CL_35

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data are not planned to be shared.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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