PCN102 The Impact of Muscle Wasting or Weakness in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Patients: Development of a Conceptual Model

Abstract

THE IMPACT OF MUSCLE WASTING OR WEAKNESS IN ADVANCED PANCREATIC CANCER PATIENTS: DEVELOPMENT OF A CONCEPTUAL MODEL Acaster S1, Gallop K2, Debusk K3, Meldahl ML4, Naegeli A4 1Oxford Outcomes, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2Oxford Outcomes Ltd., an ICON PLC Company, Oxford, Oxon, UK, 3Oxford Outcomes Ltd., an ICON PLC Company, San Francisco, CA, USA, 4Eli Lilly and Company, Inc., Indianapolis, IN, USA OBJECTIVES: There is a paucity of published literature or patient-reported outcome instruments investigating the concept of muscle weakness/wasting and its impact on advanced pancreatic cancer patients’ lives. The objective of this study was to explore locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer patients’ experience of muscle weakness/wasting and its impact on their lives and develop a conceptual model to illustrate the key concepts raised and their inter-relationships. METHODS: A cross-sectional qualitative study using non-probabilistic purposive sampling strategy recruited patients through 3 clinical sites in the United States. An interview discussion guide was developed using information obtained from a review of published literature. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted over the telephone. Data was analysed using a thematic analysis approach. A codebook developed during qualitative analysis was used as a basis for the development of the conceptual model. The conceptual model was reviewed by an expert clinician. RESULTS: Twenty-three advanced pancreatic cancer patients who experienced muscle weakness were interviewed. The sample included a wide age range (mean 63.3; range 38 87) and both male (78.3%) and female (21.7%) patients. Analysis of the qualitative data found that several areas of patient’s lives were impacted by the muscle weakness/wasting they experienced. Patients identified a number of concepts which fell into the domains of physical activities of daily living, physical performance, social functioning, leisure activities, appearance, emotional impact and work. A conceptual model was developed to graphically illustrate the relationship between the concepts and their moderating factors. CONCLUSIONS: Muscle weakness and wasting have a noticeable and wide reaching negative impact on the lives of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. This research identifies concepts of concern that could be explored as potential endpoints in future clinical trials.