• D Rischin, M A White, J P Matthews, G C Toner, K Watty, A J Sulkowski, J L Clarke, and L Buchanan.
• Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, Melbourne, VIC. drischin@petermac.unimelb.edu.au
• Med. J. Aust. 2000 Aug 7; 173 (3): 125-7.

ObjectivesTo determine patient preferences and cost differences between home-based and hospital-based chemotherapy.DesignRandomised crossover trial.SettingA tertiary cancer hospital in Melbourne, Victoria.Participants20 patients who required chemotherapy suitable for administration at home.InterventionsPatients were assigned at random to receive their first chemotherapy treatment in either the home or the hospital and the second treatment in the alternative setting.Main Outcome MeasuresPatient preference, costs.ResultsThere was universal agreement by the 20 patients in the randomised trial that home-based chemotherapy was the preferred option (P < 0.0001). No problems were nominated by the patients as being associated with home-based chemotherapy. Home-based treatment was estimated to result in an increased cost of $83 (P = 0.0002) for each chemotherapy treatment compared with hospital-based treatment. Reported advantages for chemotherapy in the home included the elimination of travel, reduction in treatment-associated anxiety, reduction in the burden on carers and family, and the ability to continue other duties. There were no significant complications associated with administration of chemotherapy in the home.ConclusionsPatients prefer home-based chemotherapy to hospital-based treatment. The future of chemotherapy-in-the-home programs in Australia will depend on whether patient preferences are deemed to offset any potential increase in costs.

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