Elderly cancer patient's desire for information about disease and treatment options

Abstract

8242 Purpose : Old patients are one of groups at risk in terms of receiving inadequate information. Clear information is determinant in the acceptance of the cancer treatment options. The present study examines the needs of elderly cancer patients (pts) to receive accurate information regarding disease and treatment outcome in a sociocultural contest where the care-givers (a family member, in the most of the cases) usually have a prevalent role in the relationship with the physician. Methods: Forty elderly cancer pts aged ≥ 70 years (mean 75), from a single outpatient clinic, were interviewed; all the pts were treated with chemotherapy; 53% were female and 47% male; 67% were married, 25% widows, and 8% never married; 25% were affected by breast cancer, 27.5% by gastrointestinal cancer, 20% by lung cancer, and 12.5% by others types. Pts were asked their perception of disease and interviewed about the information received regarding the disease, the treatment toxicity, and the need to receive more information. To evaluate their cognitive state, the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was administered and the results were corrected for age and education level. Results: in 50% of pts the MMSE score was > 24; during the interview 35 (85%) pts pronounced the word “cancer” while the remainders use only the word “disease”. Regarding the information about the disease, 40% reported the desire of more information, while 20% were doubtful. Forty-five per cent express the desire of more and accurate information about the toxicity of the treatment while 15% were doubtful. Interesting, all most of the uncertainties patients were the same that never pronounced the word cancer, that is those that are not conscious of their cancer disease. Conclusions: the results of this study showed that (a) elderly cancer patient, living in south Europe, wish to be informed about the disease; (b) the awareness of the correct diagnosis of the disease influence the patients needs about the potential treatment side effects and their desire to have an active decision-making role in terms of therapeutic options; finally, they maybe indicate (c) the patients' desire of a better patient-physician relationship. No significant financial relationships to disclose.