Associations between patient-centered communication and quality of life in patients with ovarian cancer.

Abstract

12120 Background: Patient-centered communication (PCC) occurs when clinicians respond to patients’ needs, preferences, concerns, and emotions. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Framework for PCC in Cancer Care highlights the potential of PCC to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but to date few studies have empirically examined associations between PCC and HRQoL in patients with ovarian cancer. We assessed associations between perceived PCC and HRQoL in patients with ovarian cancer. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive survey of English-speaking adults with ovarian cancer recruited both online and from one NCI-designated cancer center. We assessed perceived PCC with the Patient-Centered Communication in Cancer Care (PCC-Ca)-36 and HRQoL with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: General (FACT-G). We used simple linear regression to identify univariate associations between participant characteristics, PCC-Ca-36 total, FACT-G total, and FACT-G subscale (physical, social and family, emotional, and functional well-being) scores. We identified significant predictors of FACT-G total and subscale scores by entering variables associated with each outcome at p ≤ 0.25 into a multiple linear regression model and using backward elimination. Results: One hundred seventy-six participants completed the survey. In multivariable analyses, older age, working (vs. not working), no current treatment (vs. any current treatment), and greater perceived PCC were associated with better overall HRQoL. Working and no current treatment were associated with better physical well-being. Older age, not being cared for by a gynecologic oncologist (vs. being cared for by a gynecologic oncologist), and greater perceived PCC were associated with better social and family well-being. Older age, being recruited online (vs. in clinic), and greater perceived PCC were associated with better emotional well-being. Older age, working, rural residence (vs. not), no current treatment, and greater perceived PCC were associated with better functional well-being (all p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Greater perceived PCC was significantly associated with better overall HRQoL and better social, emotional, and functional well-being in this cross-sectional study of patients with ovarian cancer. The NCI Framework for PCC in Cancer Care posits that PCC promotes HRQoL by strengthening the therapeutic alliance, enhancing social support, and improving patient knowledge. Although PCC is theorized to promote patient self-management, PCC was not significantly associated with physical well-being in this sample. Future research should (a) identify mediators of the associations between PCC and HRQoL; (b) examine inter-individual variability in characteristics that may compromise HRQoL; (c) and examine associations between PCC and HRQoL over time.