Abstract
PurposeThis study aimed to determine the proportion and characteristics of radiation oncology outpatients who were willing to answer questions about their life expectancy.MethodsA cross-sectional patient self-report survey was conducted using touch screen computers in Australian radiation oncology treatment centers. The primary outcome was the respondent’s willingness to complete a survey subsection about life expectancy. Demographic and disease characteristics were also collected, and level of anxiety and depression was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.ResultsOf the 469 oncology outpatients who completed the survey, 327 (70 %; 95 % CI, 65 %, 74 %) indicated that they were willing to answer questions about life expectancy. Being female (p < 0.001), older (p < 0.05), born in Asia (p < 0.05), and being diagnosed with cancer types other than breast and prostate cancer (p < 0.01) were associated with lower odds of answering life expectancy questions.ConclusionsThe opportunity to opt-out of survey questions about sensitive issues such as life expectancy is a feasible method for accessing important information about patient preferences while minimizing burden. Further research may be needed to improve acceptability of life expectancy research to some patient groups.
Highlights
IntroductionOncologists are often faced with the intimidating task of communicating this bad news to patients and their families [2]
A cancer diagnosis is often associated with a reduced life expectancy [1]
At the time of recruitment, respondents were a mean of 85.8 weeks since diagnosis (SD0169.1, median028.7; Q1, Q3, 16.2, 57.2), and had attended a mean of 11.6 outpatient radiation therapy appointments (SD010.2, median09; Q1, Q3, 4, 18)
Summary
Oncologists are often faced with the intimidating task of communicating this bad news to patients and their families [2]. Communication training is provided in medical schools, clinicians have reported feeling inadequately trained in breaking bad news [3]. Variation in individual patient preferences for life expectancy disclosure compounds the complexity of this task for clinicians [3, 4]. There is limited evidence about patient disease and demographic characteristics associated with different preferences [5]. Guidelines based on consensus views have been developed to assist clinicians with the task of life expectancy disclosure [6, 7], it remains critical to build empirical evidence about how different methods of disclosure impact on patient psychosocial outcomes [2]
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