Complete and major response rates for each day are presented graphically within the paper.
Complete response rates normalised over 8 days were: 48% for oral ondansetron, 47% for oral granisetron, and 49% for IV ondansetron.
The authors did not report any results for minor response rates.
Major efficacy rates normalised over 8 days were: 82% for oral ondansetron, 84% for oral granisetron and 81% for IV ondansetron. Major efficacy was defined as complete responders plus major responders. No statistically significant difference was found between the groups.
Failure rates normalised over 8 days were: 4% oral ondansetron, 3.3% oral granisetron and 2.6% for IV ondansetron.
Overall, 85% of all patients required rescue antiemetics on at least 1 day of their antiemetic regimen: 91% in the oral ondansetron group, 85% in the oral granisetron group and 79% in the IV ondansetron group, (p=0.39).
The time path of the results was similar in all three groups; for the first three days patients did well but the response declined after this and most patients needed rescue antiemetics by day 4.
The results of the VAS questionnaires were presented as mean scores: (0 = no nausea, 100 = extreme nausea):
oral ondansetron = 32;
oral granisetron = 32; and
IV ondansetron = 27.
The differences were not statistically significant.
Overall, 81% of patients completed a VAS form every day, compliance within each group was recorded: 74% for IV ondansetron, 82% for oral ondansetron, and 88% for oral granisetron.
Early discharge without a VAS form was one reason for noncompliance, the other reason being that patients did not complete the form if they felt too sick.
The author's found that both history and severity of nausea (p<0.01) and vomiting (p<0.02) with previous chemotherapy and/or radiation were significantly associated with the patient's composite score. As a result patients who had previously experienced nausea and vomiting with treatment had lower composite scores for major efficacy.