Perceived need for information among patients with a haematological malignancy: associations with information satisfaction and treatment decision-making preferences

Communication Strategies of Transplant Hematologists in High-Risk Decision-Making Conversations

PURPOSE

Shared decision making (SDM) is essential to empower patients with blood cancers to make goal-concordant decisions about allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. This study characterizes communication strategies used by hematologists to discuss treatment options and facilitate SDM with patients in this high-risk, high-reward setting.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We recruited US hematologists who routinely perform allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant through email. Participants conducted up to an hour-long video-recorded encounter with an actor portraying a 67-year-old man with recently diagnosed high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. We transcribed and qualitatively analyzed video-recorded data.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants (N = 37) was 44 years, 65% male, and 68% White. Many hematologists included similar key points in this initial consultation, although varied in how much detail they provided. Their discussion of treatment options included transplant and chemotherapy and less commonly supportive care or clinical trials. They often emphasized transplant's potential for cure, discussed transplant chronologically from pretransplant considerations through the post-transplant course, and outlined risks, complications, and major outcomes. Hematologists referred to several elements that formed the basis of treatment decision making. The strength of their treatment recommendations ranged from strong recommendations for transplant or chemotherapy to deferrals pending more information. Hematologists also varied in the extent to which they indicated the decision was physician-driven, patient-led, or shared.

CONCLUSION

The transplant decision-making discussion is complex. Identification of similar content areas used by hematologists can be used as the basis for a communication tool to help hematologists discuss allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant with patients.

Experiences of treatment decision-making among older newly diagnosed adults with acute myeloid leukemia: a qualitative descriptive study

PURPOSE

Treatment decision-making for older adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is complex and preference-sensitive. We sought to understand the patient experience of treatment decision-making to identify specific challenges in shared decision-making to improve clinical care and to inform the development of directed interventions.

METHODS

We conducted in-depth interviews with newly diagnosed older (≥ 60 years) adults with AML and their caregivers following a semi-structured interview guide at a public safety net academic hospital. Interviews were digitally recorded, and qualitative thematic analysis was employed to synthesize findings.

RESULTS

Eighteen in-depth interviews were conducted. Age ranged from 62 to 78 years. Patients received intermediate- (50%) or high-intensity (44%) chemotherapy or best supportive care only (6%). Six themes of patient experiences emerged from the analysis: patients (1) felt overwhelmed and in shock at diagnosis, (2) felt powerless to make decisions, (3) felt rushed and unprepared to make a treatment decision, (4) desired to follow oncologist recommendations for treatment, (5) balanced multiple competing factors during treatment decision-making, and (6) desired for ongoing engagement into their care planning. Patients reported many treatment outcomes that were important in treatment decision-making.

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults with newly diagnosed AML feel devastated and in shock at their diagnosis which appears to contribute to a feeling of being overwhelmed, unprepared, and rushed into treatment decisions. Because no one factor dominated treatment decision-making for all patients, the use of strategies to elicit individual patient preferences is critical to inform treatment decisions. Interventions are needed to reduce distress and increase a sense of participation in treatment decision-making.

Information needs across time after a hematological cancer diagnosis: A qualitative study of patient and clinician perspectives

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to characterize the information needs experienced by adult patients across the continuum of their hematological cancer.

METHODS

Individual semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 28 adults with hematological cancer and 18 clinicians recruited from across Canada and analyzed using interpretive description.

RESULTS

Distinct information needs were organized across seven points of the cancer continuum: prior to diagnosis, at diagnosis, prior to treatment, during treatment, after treatment, relapse/non-response, and end of life. Patients' information needs reflected a desire to better understand their current physical and psychosocial circumstances, as well as how to make decisions about their treatment, self-management, and health care. The need to receive information in a preparatory way was relevant across all phases of the cancer continuum.

CONCLUSION

Our work contributes an initial approach for providing patient education and counselling for people with hematological cancers, which can be tailored based on individuals' unique characteristics and treatment pathways.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Adults with hematological cancers require information to support decision making over the course of their diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, but can experience information overwhelm. These findings provide an approach for organizing the delivery of information based on different points of need across the cancer continuum.

Use of Digital Health Technology Among Older Adults With Cancer in the United States: Findings From a National Longitudinal Cohort Study (2015-2021)

BACKGROUND

Despite the benefits of digital health technology use, older adults with cancer (ie, aged 65 years) have reported challenges to technology adoption. However, there has been a lack of a good understanding of their digital health technology use patterns and the associated influential factors in the past few years.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the trends in and factors associated with digital health technology use among older adults with cancer.

METHODS

The National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) data set is a national longitudinal cohort study with annual survey waves of Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older. Participants were community-dwelling older adults who self-reported previous or current cancer diagnoses in each round. The study sample size of each round ranged from 1996 (2015) to 1131 (2021). Digital health technology use was defined as using the internet or online in the last month to order or refill prescriptions, contact medical providers, handle Medicare or other insurance matters, or get information about their health conditions. The association of sociodemographics, clinical factors (self-rated health, chronic conditions, difficulties in activities of daily living, dementia, anxiety, and depression), and physical function (Short Physical Performance Battery and grip strength) with digital health technology use was examined using design-based logistic regression. All statistical analyses accounted for the complex sample design.

RESULTS

The prevalence of any digital health technology use increased from 36% in 2015 to 45% in 2019. In 2020-2021, which was amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it ranged from 51% to 52%. In terms of each digital health technology use behavior, in 2015, overall, 28% of older cancer survivors used digital health technology to obtain health information, followed by contacting clinicians (19%), filling prescriptions (14%), and handling insurance (11%). Greater use of digital health technology was associated with younger age, being White, having a college or higher education, having a higher income, having more comorbidities, nondementia, and having a higher gait speed.

CONCLUSIONS

Digital health technology use in older adults with cancer has gradually increased, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, socioeconomic and racial disparities have remained in older cancer survivors. Additionally, older adults with cancer may have some unique features associated with digital health technology use; for example, their use of digital health may be increased by their comorbidities (ie, health care needs) and reduced by their frailty.

Using conversation analysis to appraise how novel educational videos impact patient medical education

OBJECTIVE

To determine in what ways, if any, do patients, caregivers, and nurses make videos relevant during in-person education.

METHODS

We applied conversation analysis to analyze interaction in 12 nurse-led education visits (1011 min of audio) in which speakers referred to a supplemental education video.

RESULTS

Patients initiated talk about the video in about half of the clinic visits analyzed, while nurses initiated talk about the video across all clinic visits analyzed. Interactions showed that patients demonstrated knowledge of video content and clarified information concerning their treatment plans by asking questions of nurses. Nurses referenced the video prior to repeating information that they recognized patients had viewed. In all instances analyzed, nurses made references to the videos in ways that re-oriented conversations back toward the content of the informal scripts that they used to deliver patient education.

CONCLUSION

Patients referenced the video in ways that demonstrated that they had viewed it and had gained knowledge concerning treatment plans, and to ask specific questions about these. Nurses referred to the videos by acknowledging patients' prior knowledge of upcoming information.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Understanding how pre-delivered supplemental videos impact patient involvement in in-person education contributes understanding to how video-based instruction supports patient-centered care.

An Iterative Formative Evaluation of Medical Education for Multiple Myeloma Patients Receiving Autologous Stem Cell Transplant

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable cancer characterized by abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow, resulting in increased risk of infection. Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is the most effective treatment for MM, but successful transplant requires the patient and caregiver to learn and independently implement medical tasks. The Ready for Transplant (R4T) ethnographic-based formative evaluation includes evaluation of ongoing patient education and the addition of novel supplemental educational videos that patients can review before in-person transplant education. To evaluate R4T, a formative evaluation informed by utilization-orientated evaluation theories, including over 150 hours of ethnographic observation of nurse/patient education (N = 70), plus retrospective and prospective patient (N = 35) and clinician interviews (N = 7) was conducted over 18 months. Through thematic analysis, barriers and facilitators of the patient's ability to process education surrounding ASCT were identified. Barriers included anxiety surrounding what to expect in ASCT, anxiety surrounding what to expect at the education visit, overwhelming volume of information, lack of medical expertise, and disengaged patients, while facilitators included large social networks willing to help and clinician adjusting script to meet unique needs of the patient. This manuscript represents an iterative method for improving on education that people with MM receive surrounding ASCT. Ultimately, the supplemental video-based education was created to address modifiable social and psychological factors by providing generalized information that could then be tailored during in-person meetings to meet each patients' individual needs.

Clinicians' Understanding of Preferences and Values of People with Hematological Malignancies at the End of Life: Concurrent Surveys

Background: People with hematological malignancies can deteriorate rapidly to a terminal event and have variable levels of engagement when transitioning to palliative and end-of-life care. Objectives: To describe end-of-life care values and preferences of people with hematological malignancies and explore whether these align with hematology clinicians' perceptions. Design: Two matched anonymous quantitative cross-sectional surveys explored: (1) patients' values and preferences around manner and timing of discussions regarding life expectancy and prognosis, involvement in decision making, and concurrent integration of palliative care with active treatment; and (2) clinicians' perceptions of their patients' values and preferences in relation to prognostic information. Settings/Participants: Concurrent online national surveys of people with hematological malignancies known to the Leukemia Foundation of Australia, and clinicians in Australia with membership to the Hematology Society of Australia and New Zealand. Results: Five hundred nine (38% response rate) patients (median age 64 [min 20, max 89, interquartile range 56-70]) and 272 clinicians (21% response rate) responded to the survey. If their health was deteriorating, most patients wanted honest prognostic and life expectancy information (87%); welcomed involvement in decision making (94%); felt they would be comfortable talking to the treating team about the possibility of death (86%); and would be comfortable seeing someone from a specialist palliative care team (74%). Clinicians generally underestimated most of these responses. Conclusion: Although our findings indicate that most people believe they would be comfortable discussing prognosis, life expectancy, and wishes at the end of life, clinicians were largely unaware of their preferences. This highlights the need to embed values clarification in routine care for each patient and family.

Treatment decision making (TDM): a qualitative study exploring the perspectives of patients with chronic haematological cancers

OBJECTIVES

Haematological malignancies are the fifth most common cancer in the UK, with chronic subtypes comprising around a third of all new diagnoses. These complex diseases have some similarities with other cancers, but often require different management. Surgical resection is not possible, and while some are curable with intensive chemotherapy, most indolent subtypes are managed with non-aggressive intermittent or continuous treatment, often over many years. Little is known about the views of patients with chronic haematological cancers regarding treatment decision making (TDM), a deficit our study aimed to address.

SETTING AND DESIGN

Set within the Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN: www.hmrn.org), an ongoing population-based cohort that provides infrastructure to support evidence-based research, HMRN data were augmented by qualitative information from in-depth interviews. Data were analysed for thematic content, combining inductive and deductive approaches. Interpretation involved seeking meaning, salience and connections within data.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-five patients with four chronic subtypes: chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, and myeloma. Ten relatives were present and contributed to varying extents.

RESULTS

Five themes were discerned: (1) Preference for clinician recommendations; (2) Factors implicated in patient involvement in TDM; (3) Perceptions of proactive/non-proactive approaches to TDM; (4) Experiences of TDM at various points in the disease trajectory; (5) Support from others. Our principal finding relates to a strong preference among interviewees for treatment recommendations from haematologists, based on trust in their expertise and perceptions of empathetic patient-clinician relationships.

CONCLUSION

Interviewees wanted to be involved in TDM to varying extents, contingent on complex, inter-related factors, that are dynamic and subject to change according to differing clinical and personal contexts. Patients may benefit from clinicians assessing their shifting preferences for involvement on multiple occasions. Strong preferences for acceptance of recommendations was associated with cancer complexity, trust in clinician expertise and positive perceptions of patient-clinician relationships.

Information needs of older patients newly diagnosed with cancer

BACKGROUND

Understanding what information patients want and need is an important step in optimizing care. Therefore, we set out to collect all available evidence about the information that is most important to older patients with a new cancer diagnosis and whether or not these information needs are sufficiently addressed.

METHOD

A systematic literature review of Embase and Medline.

RESULTS

We included eighteen studies addressing the importance of a range of information topics and studies addressing the sufficiency of information provided. On a scale from 1 to 10, patients ranked information about prognosis and the chance of cure as the most important category (median ranking 10, interquartile range (IQR) 8-10), followed by information on cancer itself (median 9, IQR 5.5-9), and treatment options (median 8, IQR 8-9). Information on side-effects of treatment (median 7, IQR 6-8), and practicalities (median 6, IQR 5-7.5) were also considered important. Patients rated information about the practicalities of treatment as the most insufficiently addressed (median 9.5), followed by self-care at home (median 9), and information about prognosis and side-effects (median 8 for both).

CONCLUSION

This systematic review demonstrates that information provision about the cancer itself and about treatment options is generally satisfactory to patients, while information about prognosis, practicalities of treatment and self-care at home could be improved. However, there is significant heterogeneity among older patients regarding which information is most important to them, thus requiring an ongoing dialogue between patients and health care providers about which information is most needed at any given time.

Factors Associated with the Need for Breastfeeding Information Among Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-sectional Study

PURPOSE

Analyzing information based on individual needs can maximize the effectiveness of education, leading to changes in personal health behaviors. This cross-sectional descriptive survey study aimed to identify the characteristics of mothers who experienced gestational diabetes mellitus and correlate the factors associated with their information needs.

METHODS

The participants were 298 women between the ages of 20 and 49 years who were pregnant and diagnosed with gestational diabetes at the time of the study, or who were diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus within five years after delivery. The average age of the participants was 34.28 years. After comparing participants' demographics, diabetes, and breastfeeding-related characteristics according to their need for information on breastfeeding, a multiple logistic regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Factors associated with participants' need for information on breastfeeding were economic conditions, usual body mass index, current pregnancy, and experience of breastfeeding.

CONCLUSION

The findings can be used to implement programs that meet the needs of these women and help improve maternal and pediatric health and quality of life.

Providing Telephone-Based Support for Patients With Haematological Malignancies: A Qualitative Investigation of Expert Nurses

BACKGROUND

Telephone-based interventions are frequently used to address cancer patient's needs, often delivered by nurses; however, little is known about nurses' opinions of such interventions.

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to investigate expert nurses' perceptions of hemato-oncology patient's needs, use of telephone interventions providing support and symptom management and intervention acceptability from a service provider perspective. A qualitative study was undertaken with focus group and individual interview. Inductive and deductive data analysis was performed using Framework Analysis and the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability.

RESULTS

Two themes emerged: (1) perceived needs of haemato-oncology patients across the cancer trajectory - multifactorial influences, dynamic information needs, and continuity of care, (2) acceptability for nurses delivering interventions was determined by identification of need, agreed expectations and organisational support for the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater understanding of contextual factors for recipients and individuals delivering healthcare interventions may contribute to identification of potential barriers and facilitators to adoption in clinical practice.

Development and validation of a web-based patient decision aid for immunotherapy for patients with metastatic melanoma: study protocol for a multicenter randomized trial

Background

Patients with metastatic melanoma and their physicians are confronted with a complex decision regarding first-line therapy. Risks and benefits vary considerably between various treatment options. With this in mind, we aim to develop and evaluate a patient decision aid (PtDA) to inform patients about the risks and benefits of treatment options, namely, immunotherapy as monotherapy, immunotherapy as combination therapy, and treatment with BRAF/MEK inhibitors. We aim to test whether the use of this PtDA before medical consultation will increase patients’ knowledge of treatment options and thus promote shared decision-making (SDM) and patient decision satisfaction.

Methods

In total, 128 patients with metastatic melanoma from two German cancer centers will be randomized to the intervention group (IG), receiving access to the PtDA before medical consultation, or the control group (CG), receiving treatment as usual (TAU), i.e., medical consultation alone. There will be three major assessment points (before intervention, T₀; after intervention, T₁; and 3 months after intervention, T₂). The main outcome is the patient’s knowledge of their treatment options, measured by a self-developed, piloted multiple-choice test at T₁. Secondary outcome measures will include the extent of SDM during medical consultation, assessed by Observer OPTION 5, and patient decision satisfaction, assessed by the Satisfaction with Decision Scale (SwD), at T₁ and T₂.

Discussion

This trial will assess the effectiveness of a developed PtDA to enhance patient knowledge of treatment options for metastatic melanoma, SDM, and patient decision satisfaction. If the efficacy can be proven, the PtDA will be implemented nationwide in Germany to close a relevant gap in the education and care of patients with metastatic melanoma.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04240717. Registered on 27 January 2020

Unmet Supportive Care Needs of Patients with Hematological Malignancies: A Systematic Review

Hematological malignancies require intensive and long-term treatment, which brings a significant burden on patients, leading to unmet supportive care needs. The purpose of this review was to investigate the unmet supportive care needs of patients with hematological malignancies during and after active treatment as well as the factors that affect them. A systematic bibliographic search was carried out in the PubMed database for English articles published between 2009 and 2020 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews guidelines and under the terms: "unmet needs", "supportive care", "hematological malignancy" and "hematological cancer." Twenty studies were evaluated and reviewed. Hierarchical frequently reported unmet supportive care needs were informational, emotional, physical, daily living/practical (accessibility, transportation, and financial problems), and family life/relational needs. In particular, patients with multiple myeloma most frequently reported unmet needs at the informational, physical, emotional, and daily living/practical domain. Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes reported physical, emotional, practical, and relational needs. Patients with leukemia and lymphoma rated their needs as informational, physical, psychological, daily living, and sexual. Sexual and spiritual unmet needs were reported at a low level. Predictive indicators for increased unmet supportive care needs were the type of the hematological malignancy, younger age, marital status, female gender, monthly income, coexistence of anxiety and depression, and altered quality of life. To conclude with, the literature reports a significant number of unmet supportive care needs in patients with hematological malignancies, whose frequency and intensity were influenced by a variety of factors. However, the large heterogeneity of studies (design, sample, and needs assessment tools) makes the generalization of the results difficult.

A Framework for Assessing the Impact of Information-Seeking Behavior on Cancer Patients' Long-Term Prognosis

Cancer is considered as one of the main challenges of modern healthcare systems. Cancer patients are obliged to cope with the uncertainty of disease progression. Their anxiety regarding said uncertainty is intensified because they need to constantly make decisions concerning the management of their disease. Information and communication are considered important in cancer management. As a result, the research associated with the impact of healthcare information-seeking behavior on numerous cancer management aspects has intensified and grown in astonishing rates. This work concentrates on the interplay of oncological patients' information-seeking behavior regarding their long-term prognosis. Therefore, a conceptual framework is proposed that identifies and associates several clinical, socio-demographic, psychological, and information-seeking behavioral factors that are likely to be linked with patients' health outcomes.

Illness and prognostic understanding in patients with hematologic malignancies

It is critical for patients with hematologic malignancies to have an accurate understanding of their illness and prognosis to make informed treatment decisions. Illness and prognostic understanding have primarily been studied in patients with solid tumors, however, data in patients with hematologic malignancies are rapidly growing. Patients with hematologic malignancies often face a unique and unpredictable illness trajectory with the possibility of cure persisting even in relapsed and refractory settings. These patients often require intensive therapies such as high-dose chemotherapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT), or CAR T-cell therapy, which carry with them significant risk of morbidity, mortality, and prognostic uncertainty. In this review article, we first described the current literature on illness and prognostic understanding in patients with hematologic malignancies including 1) patients' varying desire for prognostic information; (2) patients' prognostic misperceptions, (3) the association between patients' prognostic understanding and their psychological outcomes; and (4) barriers to prognostic understanding. Next, we examined insights gained from the literature about illness and prognostic understanding in patients with solid tumors to guide our understanding of the research gaps in hematologic malignancies. Future studies are needed to better delineate the longitudinal relationship between prognostic understanding, psychological distress, and coping in patients with hematologic malignancies. Strategies such as communicating effectively about prognosis, cultivating adaptive coping in the face of a terminal prognosis, and integrating specialty palliative care for patients with hematologic malignancies have the potential to improve patients' prognostic understanding and their quality of life and care.

Recommended patient information sheet on the impact of haematopoietic cell transplantation on sexual functioning and sexuality

Sexual concerns are common after haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Exposure to total body irradiation (TBI), alkylating agent and graft versus host disease (GvHD) can all affect sexual function, leading to problems in sexual desire, arousal and the orgasm phase of the sexual response cycle. In high-risk haematological malignancies, such as acute leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndromes, HCT often offers the highest chance for long-term survival. In addition, these haematological diseases and HCT can have an impact on body image, self-esteem, (sexual) relationship and psychosocial factors, all of which are able to affect sexuality and sexual function. Five years post HCT, 80% of the female survivors and 46% of the male survivors report sexual dysfunction.

It has been shown that these patients cope better after having discussed sexual health. While healthcare providers (HCPs) have the responsibility to address sexual issues, it has been demonstrated that 48%–82% HCT recipients reported not having discussed sexual issues with their HCPs and that only one-third of the HCPs routinely discussed sexual issues with their patients. HCPs describe a lack of knowledge and being uncomfortable with the topic as the most important reasons for not addressing sexual functioning. Even so, it would help >90% HCPs if the patient initiated discussing sexual issues. However, to empower patients addressing sexual issues, adequate comprehensive patient information is needed. In an effort to better meet the patients’ need, a patient information sheet: ‘Information for patients undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: the impact of the disease and treatment on sexual function and sexuality’, has been created.

In this review, we describe what is known about the impact of HCT on sexual function and briefly the management of sexual problems.

Nurse Case Manager: Measurement of Care Coordination Activities and Quality and Resource Use Outcomes When Caring for the Complex Patient With Hematologic Cancer

BACKGROUND

The lack of coordination of care for complex patients in the hematology setting has prompted nurse case managers (NCMs) to coordinate that care.

OBJECTIVES

This article aimed to identify the frequency of NCM care coordination activities and quality and resource use outcomes in the complex care of patients in the hematology setting.

METHODS

NCM aggregate data from complex outpatients with hematologic cancer were retrieved from electronic health records at a comprehensive cancer center in the midwestern United States. Total volume of activities and outcomes were calculated as frequency and percentage.

FINDINGS

Care coordination activities included communicating; monitoring, following up, and responding to change; and creating a proactive plan of care. Quality outcomes included improving continuity of care and change in health behavior, and resource use outcomes most documented were patient healthcare cost savings.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Satisfaction With Health Care: Relation to Clinical Stage in Mexican Patients With Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by bone pain, pathologic fractures, bone destruction, and secondary hypercalcemia, all these conditions impact on health-related quality of life of patients. The objective was to evaluate the global health state and health-related quality of life in a group of patients with MM who attended a tertiary health-care center of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social in Mexico, through the questionnaires designed by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life group. Exploratory cross-sectional study in patients with MM treated in a Department of Hematology in a High-Specialty Medical Unit was conducted. Patients older than 18 years of age, men and women, were selected, and their informed written consent was obtained. We included all consecutive cases treated from January 2012 to December 2014. Questionnaires EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-MY20, and EORTC IN-PATSAT-32 were used. We studied 37 patients, 19 (51%) men and 18 women. The mean age was 61.9 years. Twenty-two (59.46%) patients presented with clinical stage III. The mean time for diagnosis was 33.11 months. The most used first-line treatment schedule was melphalan/prednisone/thalidomide (15; 40%). The global health median was 66.67, and symptoms showed a median score of 22.22. Treatment side effects score was 16.67; for general satisfaction, the median score was 75. In conclusion, the patients showed an advanced clinical stage and poor prognosis but had scores higher than 50 in functional scales and lower than 50 for symptom scales. The scores for symptom scales were related to age, renal failure, and disease-free survival. Identification of quality of life and satisfaction of care markers allow for early therapeutic intervention and efficiency and enable a change in quality of life and perception of care in Health Services.

The need for information among patients with hematological malignancies: Psychometric analyses of the 62-item Hematology Information Needs Questionnaire (HINQ-62)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric characteristics (content validity, internal consistency, and subscale structure) of the Hematology Information Needs Questionnaire-62 (HINQ-62), a patient reported outcome measure (PROM) for assessing the need for information among patients with hematological malignancies (HM-patients). Baseline data were used from a prospective study on the need for information which 336 newly diagnosed HM-patients had completed. In phase 1 (design phase), data from the first 135 patients were used and in phase 2 (validation phase), data from the remaining 201 HM patients were used. Content validity was analyzed by examining irrelevance of items. Items were considered irrelevant if more than 10% of the patients scored totally disagree on that item. The subscale structure of the HINQ-62 was investigated with Factor analysis (FA) (exploratory FA in phase 1 and confirmatory FA in phase 2). Cronbach's α was computed for the different subscales and >.70 was considered as good internal consistency. None of the 62 HINQ-items were irrelevant. Exploratory FA identified five subscales: "Disease, symptoms, treatment and side-effects", "Etiology, sleep and physical changes", "Self-care", "Medical tests and prognosis", and "Psychosocial". Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) among patients was 0.037 in phase 1 and 0.045 in phase 2. The comparative fit index (CFI)/Tucker-Lewis index -non-normed fit index among patients was 0.984/0.983 and 0.948/0.946, in phase 1 and 2 respectively. The internal consistency of the subscales was good, with Cronbach's α 0.82-0.99. The HINQ is a valid PROM for assessing the need for information among Dutch HM-patients at diagnosis.

Optimal cancer care: what essential elements of care would help haematological cancer patients obtain and understand information about their disease and its treatment and impact?

PURPOSE

To describe the perceptions of haematological cancer patients about the components of care deemed essential to supporting them to obtain and understand information about their cancer, its treatment and its impact on their life.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with individuals diagnosed with haematological cancer. Eligible patients presenting for a scheduled outpatient appointment were invited to complete a pen-and-paper survey in the clinic waiting room while waiting for their appointment. Those who completed the survey were mailed a second survey approximately 4 weeks later. Participants provided data about their demographic and disease characteristics and perceptions of optimal care for haematological cancer patients.

RESULTS

A total of 170 patients completed both surveys and were included in the analysis. The items endorsed as essential components of care by the highest number of participants were being able to share accurate information about their disease, treatment and ongoing care with their GP/family doctor (49%); being able to obtain up-to-date information specific to their circumstances (43%); being able to obtain information in the amount of detail that they want (34%); being able to call a health care professional at the treatment centre where they are receiving care (34%) and being able to call an experienced health care professional who has knowledge of their disease and its treatment (34%).

CONCLUSIONS

Further research is needed to determine ways of meeting the preferences of haematological cancer patients and determining the associated impact on patient outcomes.

Decision Aids: Assisting Patients With Multiple Myeloma and Caregivers With Treatment Decision Making

A consolidated evaluation of resources on treatment decision aids (DAs) for multiple myeloma (MM) is lacking in the literature. This review identified 29 published DAs. Further analysis of these DAs revealed that the personal values and preferences of patients with MM are not well integrated into the development of these DAs, indicating the need for a more explicit shared decision-making model of MM care delivery. The development and testing of a web-based and individualized treatment DA will likely promote a shared decision-making process in clinical practice, improve patient satisfaction with treatment decisions, and decrease decisional regrets in patients newly diagnosed with MM.
.

Unmet Needs for Psychosocial Care in Hematologic Malignancies and Hematopoietic Cell Transplant

Individuals diagnosed with hematologic malignancies experience significant unmet psychological, physical, informational, financial, and spiritual needs. The goal of the current review is to summarize and highlight recent research focused on these issues in the diagnosis and treatment periods and beyond. The review also describes the needs of adolescent and young adult (AYA) and pediatric patients. While a large body of research has reported on unmet needs among adult hematologic cancer patients, there is far less data regarding the challenges confronted by AYA and pediatric populations. Available data suggests that among all age groups, hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a risk factor for greater unmet needs. Recommendations for screening and evidence-based interventions to prevent or ameliorate unmet needs are provided. Future research is needed to develop additional evidence-based psychosocial interventions with a focus on hematologic cancer.

"Am I normal?" The Wishes of Patients With Lymphoma to Compare Their Patient-Reported Outcomes With Those of Their Peers

Background

Providing feedback to patients on their patient-reported outcomes (PROs) can help patients in monitoring their functioning and symptoms and may help empower them.

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate whether patients with lymphoma wished to receive PRO feedback, including the option to compare their scores with those of their peers, and how this feedback was evaluated.

Methods

We invited 64 patients participating in a lymphoma cohort who were eligible for a follow-up questionnaire and gave them the option to receive PRO feedback. Patients completed questions about health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptoms. PRO feedback was provided via bar charts.

Results

Of the 64 invited patients, 45 participated (response rate 70%) and 36 of those (80%) wished to receive PRO feedback. The vast majority (34/36, 94%) compared their scores with those of a lymphoma reference cohort, and 64% (23/36) compared their score with those of a normative population without cancer. All patients wished to receive feedback on their HRQoL, and 29 (81%) to 33 (92%) wanted feedback on their functioning, fatigue, neuropathy, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Of the 36 participants wishing to receive PRO feedback, 35 (97%) viewed it as being useful, with reassurance and knowledge about their own functioning in relation to what is “normal” being the most frequently mentioned reasons.

Conclusions

A high number of patients with lymphoma wished to receive PRO feedback. Patients reported the comparison of their scores versus a lymphoma reference cohort as most valuable. Further research should investigate whether PRO feedback could increase empowerment and possibly improve HRQoL.

Quality of Life in 807 Patients with Vestibular Schwannoma: Comparing Treatment Modalities

Objective In vestibular schwannoma treatment, the choice among treatment modalities is controversial. The first aim of this study was to examine the quality of life of patients with vestibular schwannoma having undergone observation, radiation therapy, or microsurgical resection. The second aim was to examine the relationship between perceived symptoms and quality of life. Last, the association between quality of life and time since treatment was studied. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Tertiary referral center. Subjects and Methods A total of 1208 patients treated for sporadic vestibular schwannoma between 2004 and 2014 were mailed the disease-specific Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality of Life (PANQOL) questionnaire and additional questions on symptoms associated with vestibular schwannoma. Total and domain scores were calculated and compared among treatment groups. Propensity scores were used, and results were stratified according to tumor size to control for potential confounders. Correlations were calculated to examine the relationship between self-reported symptoms and quality of life, as well as between quality of life and time since treatment. Results Patients with small tumors (≤10 mm) under observation showed a higher PANQOL score when compared with the radiation therapy and microsurgical resection groups. A strong negative correlation was found between self-reported symptoms and quality of life, with balance problems and vertigo having the largest impact. No correlation was found between PANQOL score and time since treatment. Conclusion This study suggests that patients with small vestibular schwannomas experience better quality of life when managed with observation than do patients who have undergone active treatment.

The course of anxiety, depression and unmet needs in survivors of diffuse large B cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma in the early survivorship period

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study is to examine the course of anxiety, depression and unmet needs in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and multiple myeloma (MM) survivors in the first 2 years post diagnosis.

METHODS

DLBCL and MM survivors, recruited through the Victorian Cancer Registry, completed two interviews approximately 7 and 15 months post diagnosis. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS-SF34) were completed at both interviews. Primary outcomes were prevalence of anxiety, depression and unmet needs (any or moderate-high). Generalized estimating equation examined whether course of anxiety, depression and unmet needs differed between the two cancers.

RESULTS

Overall, 236 DLBCL and 178 MM survivors completed both telephone interviews. Course of anxiety differed (p < 0.01) with rate increasing in DLBCL (14 to 22%) while remaining stable for MM (15 to 12%). Course of depression also differed (p < 0.01), decreasing for MM (22 to 12%) and remaining stable for DLBCL (15 to 16%) survivors. Change in unmet needs was generally similar for the two cancer groups, except for moderate to high psychological needs (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Patterns of change in anxiety and depression in first 2 years post diagnosis differ for DLBCL and MM survivors.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Studying psychological outcomes in mixed haematological cancer samples may be inappropriate, at least in the early survivorship phase. Separate studies of the experiences of people with the different haematological cancer subtypes are needed to ensure psychosocial and supportive care interventions are appropriate to the needs of individuals with different haematological cancers.

Awareness of acute myeloid leukaemia risk induced by diagnosis of a myelodysplastic syndrome

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) can evolve to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in approximately 30% of cases. Knowing their AML risk is important for patients because it might impact adherence to care and psychological health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of AML risk among MDS patients and to study the factors associated with this awareness. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to all members of French and Australian patients' national MDS associations. Data of 301 patients were analysed. Patients were satisfied with the information they had received, but 33.2% did not know that they had an increased risk of developing AML. Younger age, higher-risk MDS treatment, preferences for health-related information and satisfaction with information provided about treatment were the factors independently associated with awareness of AML risk. Compared to unaware patients, patients knowing their risk were more likely to participate in a hypothetical clinical trial (83.0% vs 72.4%, p=0.043). More efforts are needed to provide more systematic information about AML risk to patients wishing to know it. More research is needed to study if increasing awareness can lead to more active engagement of MDS patients in their care and can increase the rate of clinical trial participation.

An exploratory study of end-of-life prognostic communication needs as reported by widowed fathers due to cancer

OBJECTIVE

Effective physician communication about prognosis is a critical aspect of quality care for families affected by terminal illness. This is particularly important for spousal caregivers of terminally ill parents of dependent children, who may have unique needs for communication about anticipated death. The objective of this study was to explore end-of-life prognostic communication experiences reported by bereaved fathers whose wives died from cancer.

METHODS

From October 2012 to November 2013 we surveyed widowed fathers whose wives died from cancer through an open-access educational website. The survey included the following open-ended questions regarding prognostic communication: 'What is the most important thing you would like us to know about whether/how your wife's doctors communicated with you about her anticipated death? What do you wish had been different, if anything?' We performed traditional content analysis of responses. Two researchers coded and categorized the data.

RESULTS

Two hundred forty-four men responded to the survey questions on prognostic communication. Major themes addressed by respondents were the importance of clear and honest communication and physician bedside manner. They also identified unmet information needs, including wanting to know prognosis sooner. Relevant sub-themes included death coming as a surprise, avoidance, and caregiver regret.

CONCLUSIONS

Surviving spouses due to cancer can provide important insights for health care providers about optimum prognostic communication at the end of life. Increased physician attention to the communication preferences of both patients and their partners may improve bereavement outcomes for family members.

Cognitive coping style (monitoring and blunting) and the need for information, information satisfaction and shared decision making among patients with haematological malignancies

OBJECTIVE

A haematological malignancy is a serious, life-altering disease and may be characterised as an uncontrollable and unpredictable stress situation. In dealing with potentially threatening information, individuals generally utilise two main cognitive coping styles: monitoring (the tendency to seek threat-relevant information) and blunting (avoiding threatening information and seeking distraction). The aim of this study was to obtain insight into the association between cognitive coping style and (a) need for information, (b) satisfaction with information, (c) involvement in decision making, and (d) quality of life (QoL).

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, coping style was assessed among adult patients diagnosed with a haematological malignancy, using an adapted version of the Threatening Medical Situations Inventory. Information need, information satisfaction, decision-making preference and QoL were measured with validated questionnaires.

RESULTS

In total, 458 patients returned the questionnaire (66%). A monitoring coping style was positively related to need for both general and specific information. Blunting was positively and QoL was negatively related to need for information. Monitoring was positively related to involvement in decision-making and negatively to information satisfaction. Using multivariate analysis, this relation between monitoring and information satisfaction disappeared, and for blunting, we found a negatively significant relation. QoL was not related to coping style.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with haematological malignancies, coping style is related to a need for information, information satisfaction, and involvement in treatment decision-making. Therefore, it is important for health care professionals to be aware of individual differences in cognitive coping style.