We’re in this together: Patients’, caregivers’ and health care providers’ illness perceptions about non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Perceptions of Japanese and Dutch women with early breast cancer about monitoring their quality of life

OBJECTIVE

Monitoring quality of life (QoL) in patients with cancer can provide insight into functional, psychological and social consequences associated with illness and its treatment. The primary objective of this study is to examine the influence of cultural factors on the communication between the patient and the health care provider and the perceived QoL in women with breast cancer in Japan and the Netherlands.

METHODS

In Japanese and Dutch women with early breast cancer, the number, content and frequency of QoL-related issues discussed at the medical encounter were studied. Patients completed questionnaires regarding QoL and evaluation of communication with the CareNoteBook.

RESULTS

The total number, frequency and content of QoL-related issues discussed differed between the two countries. Japanese women (n = 134) were significantly more reticent in discussing QoL-issues than the Dutch women (n = 70) (p < .001). Furthermore, Dutch patients perceived the CareNoteBook methodology significantly more positively than the Japanese patients (p < .001). Both groups supported the regular assessment via a CareNoteBook methodology.

CONCLUSIONS

Japanese women are more reluctant in expressing their problems with the illness, its treatment and patient-physician communication than Dutch women.

Illness representations and quality of life in French patients suffering from lung cancer

Numerous studies have shown the impact of lung cancer disease on patient quality of life (QoL), but no research has yet examined the impact of illness representations (IR) in the assessment of QoL in lung cancer. Our goal is to explore the role of IR as adeterminant of QoL for lung cancer patients. Data were collected from 162 French patients who completed aself-administered questionnaire including ageneric measure of QoL. It also contains aspecific measure of psychological distress, mental adjustment to cancer, and socio-demographic and medical data. Regression analysis revealed that consequences, treatment control, identity and understanding predicted QoL and the activity dimension of QoL. Perceived consequences and identity seemed to have adeleterious impact on QoL, while treatment control predicted abetter QoL, related to the level of psychological distress and education level. The results suggest the importance of considering IR as adeterminant of QoL. They corroborate earlier findings on the relationship between IR and QoL associated with other pathologies. Psychosocial variables appeared to have more impact on QoL than socio-demographic and clinical variables, which shows the importance of considering IR in order to improve the QoL of patients.

Portraying a grim illness: lung cancer in novels, poems, films, music, and paintings

PURPOSE

We studied how lung cancer is represented in five art genres: novels, poems, films, music, and paintings, in order to put lung cancer in a biopsychosocial perspective. The Common Sense Model is the theoretical basis: illness perceptions regarding lung cancer are examined in exemplars of the art genres.

METHODS

Literature searches, websites, and personal files formed the database. They produced a fairly limited number of novels, poems, films, music pieces, and paintings with lung cancer as core element.

RESULTS

A resigned, rather depressive response associated with great emotional turmoil to the diagnosis of lung cancer, its treatment and dismal outcome, figure rather prominently in the identified sources.

CONCLUSIONS

Living with lung cancer is scarcely portrayed in novels, poems, film, music, and paintings. When portrayed, a depressive and resigned attitude colors the illness perceptions. Elements from the Medical Humanities (e.g., expressive writing, photovoice, painting) deserve further study in order to examine whether they help improve the quality of life of patients with lung cancer.

Psychological interventions to improve the quality of life in Indian lung cancer patients: A neglected area

The incidence of lung cancer is very high and evidence suggests that patients experience imbalanced emotional capabilities due to less survival rate compared to other cancers. Direct and indirect psychological interventions are mandatory to improve the outcome of lung cancer treatment. Although such interventions are being practiced in developed nations, the effects of psychological interventions on the treatment outcome in the Indian context are lacking. Since there is a definite correlation between treatment outcome and psychological issues, it is high time that clinicians in developing countries including India adopt practices to enhance the quality of life of lung cancer patients.

Symptom burden in lung cancer: management updates

Lung cancer is recognized to carry a high symptom burden with associated lowered quality of life as compared with other cancers. Research has shown that symptom severity can be a prognostic indicator of poorer clinical outcomes and survival post treatment. The purpose of this paper is to review current literature relative to symptom burden associated with diagnosis, medical and/or surgical intervention, assessment and management updates, and emerging initiatives that promote positive outcomes based on updated evidence. Discussion relative to interdisciplinary coordination of supportive services and palliative care initiation is provided.