Investigating pocket cards to improve cancer patient knowledge of chemotherapy.

Abstract

35 Background: Studies suggest cancer patients frequently misunderstand information about cancer treatment. Doctors and nurses often give cancer patients written information such as internet-downloaded printouts about chemotherapy. We observed that cancer patients at Mayo Clinic often cannot recall cancer drug names and expected side effects, despite receiving written information. We investigated whether pocket cards [PC] could improve drug name and side effect recall compared to written information alone. Methods: We randomized 100 cancer patients starting chemotherapy to receive PC plus written information or written information alone. Each PC listed the drug name and 3-5 common drug side effects. Written information included a Mayo Clinic produced drug information sheet and printed information from the CareNotes System (Thomson Reuters), with each sheet listing a drug’s name and common side effects. Cancer patients were tested for drug names and side effects recalled at treatment start, again at 4-6 weeks, and again at 8-10 weeks. Results: Of 100 cancer patients randomized (50 to PC plus written information and 50 to written information alone), 66 completed the study. Demographics: median age 64 years (24-81 years); 41 male; 59 female. At 8-10 weeks, no significant difference between groups was observed for drug names recalled correctly (p = 0.79) or median side effects recalled (p = 0.34). Drug name recall declined at 8-10 weeks (29% named drug names correctly at treatment start versus 20% at 8-10 weeks). Median side effects recalled was unchanged at 8-10 weeks (p = 0.19). Conclusions: PC do not appear to improve cancer patients’ drug name recall better that written information alone, nor do PC increase recall of drug side effects. Patient recall of drug names decreases over time. Additional education provided several weeks after chemotherapy has begun may be warranted to reinforce patient knowledge of important treatment-related information.