Variation in the use of ondansetron as an antiemetic drug in children treated with chemotherapy.

Selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonists such as ondansetron are potent antiemetics for chemotherapy-induced emesis. Ondansetron has been shown to be highly effective in preventing nausea and vomiting in children treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. However, its high cost may limit its application. A "physician profile" provided by the hospital pharmacy and a questionnaire survey conducted amongst the attending physicians of the hematology/oncology division of a children's hospital showed wide variation in ondansetron use. This variation was evident for both the indications of use and the schedule of administration. Moreover, 80% of the physicians were not aware of the actual cost of ondansetron. In order to reduce this variation, which may affect the quality of care and increase costs unnecessarily, guidelines have been developed for the use of antiemetic drugs in pediatric oncology patients at this institution.