Acceptability among advanced cancer patients of creating legacy teaching videos.

Abstract

232 Background: The beneficial effects of life story review and legacy activities on the mood and quality of life for adults with advanced illness is well described, including the creation of legacy videos for family gifting. It is unknown whether creating legacy videos with the intent of teaching future healthcare professionals about the “cancer patient” experience is acceptable, beneficial, or meaningful to patients. The study aim is to describe the acceptability and success of recruiting patients with advanced cancer to create teaching videos for healthcare professionals. Methods: Patients aged 18 and older were recruited from the outpatient oncology clinic, palliative medicine clinic, and inpatient service of an academic medical center in the Northeast. Eligibility included having a diagnosis of an unresectable advanced cancer, an ECOG score of 0-3, being English speaking, and not having active psychosis. Patients underwent in-person, digital video recorded interviews that followed a semi-structured interview guide. Interview questions addressed the lived experience of being a “cancer patient,” coping, and how the patient thought clinicians could provide better care to future patients. For each patient, we measured the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI), Distress Thermometer, and study acceptability. Results: Recruitment is ongoing. To date, of 12 patients referred, 4 completed the video, and 3 completed the follow-up visit. On average, it takes six contact attempts (phone calls or text message threads) to schedule an appointment that resulted in a completed video. Each interview lasted about a 1-1.5 hours. Patients reported that they “really enjoyed the experience,” and “it had helped them process” their cancer experience. A common theme was the patient’s strong desire to help others by sharing their story. Conclusions: Patients with advanced cancer find recruitment and participation in an educationally-oriented legacy video project acceptable and potentially personally helpful.