Sharing news of a lung cancer diagnosis with adult family members and friends: a qualitative study to inform a supportive intervention

Sharing Bad News: Communication Between Patients and Their Loved Ones in a Palliative Care Context

Background: Although communication is strongly emphasized in palliative care, not much research has focused on communication between patients and their loved ones. The purpose was to increase understanding of communication around severe illness between patients with a life-threatening disease, receiving palliative care, and their loved ones. Secondary intention was to identify strategies making easier for patients to talk about their condition with loved ones. The article is based on in-depth interviews with 15 patients and 8 loved ones. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Communication about patient's illness was often described as balancing between wanting to inform or know and wanting to protect. Both patients and loved ones deliberately talk in a way that reflects their relationship. They act, negotiate and communicate aiming at not wanting to create situations that are perceived as uncomfortable, either for themselves or for others. Patients also take everyday practicalities into account. In these interactions, some people become the patients' inner circle - people with whom information is shared and co-owned. Other people find themselves outside the circle and patients may use them as test-subjects - speaking to them about things they might not dare reveal to their inner circle. These considerations are reflected in the themes: What is communicated, How communication is performed, and When it takes place. Our findings show that acting on the ideals of an "open and honest" form of communication is not always to be recommended. Professionals must instead strive to understand and respect the intentions of those involved.

Receiving and breaking bad news: A qualitative study of family carers managing a cancer diagnosis and interactions with healthcare services

AIMS

To explore family carer experiences of managing the process of receiving and breaking bad news about cancer.

BACKGROUND

Family carers' experiences of bad news are underrepresented in the literature. This study involved oncology staff with personal experience of caregiving and carers to develop broader insights into the range of needs and difficulties experienced by family members in the process of managing a cancer diagnosis. This can help facilitate subsequent interactions with healthcare professionals and improve continuity of care.

DESIGN

This is a descriptive qualitative study informed by the theory of social constructionism. Data were analysed using template analysis.

METHODS

Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 4 healthcare professionals and 17 family carers between January and July 2018. A purposive sampling strategy was used. Interviews were transcribed verbatim to explore participant experiences and perspectives on family carers managing a cancer diagnosis.

FINDINGS

Three key themes were identified: (1) receiving the bad news; (2) management of bad news and (3) interaction with healthcare and support services. These and associated subthemes are discussed, with recommendations for future research and practice.

CONCLUSIONS

There was variability in the experiences and needs of carers involved in receiving and breaking the bad news.

IMPACT

Although family members experienced a multitude of difficult emotions when the bad news was shared, they were not often able to discern help from healthcare professionals with sharing the diagnosis with the patient and others. This impacted on access to and use of healthcare and support services. Individualized approaches to communication are needed to enable carers to seek support and provide perspectives on the patient home environment and family structure. This can help tailor breaking the bad news and care plans.

PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Anonymised results were shared with family carers to validate the congruency of the codes with their experiences.

How Giving and Receiving Information Has Shaped My Cancer Journey

I have been a nurse for 40 years and I now have metastatic breast cancer. I have learned a lot, especially about giving bad news, disclosing the diagnosis to others, and using the hospital's patient portal. First, how bad news is given to patients is important and should provide clear next steps for follow-up and treatment. Second, telling family, friends, and colleagues about a new cancer diagnosis is more challenging than you might expect. It is emotionally draining and time consuming, and support by primary care clinicians (PCCs) could make a difference. Finally, patient portals can be very beneficial, but their use in a complex diagnostic process like metastatic cancer can be problematic. Primary care clinicians should explicitly discuss use of portals with patients so that they receive the information they need in the way they want.

Guidance for reporting intervention development studies in health research (GUIDED): an evidence-based consensus study

OBJECTIVE

To improve the quality and consistency of intervention development reporting in health research.

DESIGN

This was a consensus exercise consisting of two simultaneous and identical three-round e-Delphi studies (one with experts in intervention development and one with wider stakeholders including funders, journal editors and public involvement members), followed by a consensus workshop. Delphi items were systematically derived from two preceding systematic reviews and a qualitative interview study.

PARTICIPANTS

Intervention developers (n=26) and wider stakeholders (n=18) from the UK, North America and Europe participated in separate e-Delphi studies. Intervention developers (n=13) and wider stakeholders (n=13) participated in a 1-day consensus workshop.

RESULTS

e-Delphi participants achieved consensus on 15 reporting items. Following feedback from the consensus meeting, the final inclusion and wording of 14 items with description and explanations for each item were agreed. Items focus on context, purpose, target population, approaches, evidence, theory, guiding principles, stakeholder contribution, changes in content or format during the development process, required changes for subgroups, continuing uncertainties, and open access publication. They form the GUIDED (GUIDance for the rEporting of intervention Development) checklist, which contains a description and explanation of each item, alongside examples of good reporting.

CONCLUSIONS

Consensus-based reporting guidance for intervention development in health research is now available for publishers and researchers to use. GUIDED has the potential to lead to greater transparency, and enhance quality and improve learning about intervention development research and practice.

Communication of a mesothelioma diagnosis: developing recommendations to improve the patient experience

Background

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer linked to asbestos exposure and inhalation. As with other cancers, receiving a diagnosis of MPM is challenging and distressing. Particular challenges are associated with communicating a diagnosis of MPM, including explaining the disease and its prognosis, treatment options and legal and financial implications. Receiving A Diagnosis Of Mesothelioma (RADIO Meso) aimed to understand the experience of communicating a diagnosis of MPM from the perspective of patients, family carers and health professionals.

Methods

This qualitative study comprised 31 individual interviews with patients, family carers and health professionals. This was followed by two group interviews (n=42) and an electronic consultation exercise (n=39).

Results

This study provides unique insight into the mesothelioma diagnostic experience of patients, family carers and health professionals. Key findings include the importance of regarding diagnosis as a process, and provision of continuity and consistency. The clinical nurse specialist and effective multidisciplinary team working provided vital contributions to successful mesothelioma diagnostic communication. Facilitators to diagnostic communication included honesty and timeliness in communication, partnership working and maintaining a patient-centred approach. Challenges to enhancing mesothelioma diagnosis communication included accessing ongoing training, ensuring a suitable clinical environment and being able to allocate appropriate time.

Conclusion

The RADIO Meso study highlights factors that influence the communication of a diagnosis of MPM from the perspectives of individual patients and family carers. These findings provide the basis for a set of recommendations that can be used by health professionals to improve the MPM diagnostic experience.

Social consequences of advanced cancer in patients and their informal caregivers: a qualitative study

PURPOSE

Cancer threatens the social well-being of patients and their informal caregivers. Social life is even more profoundly affected in advanced diseases, but research on social consequences of advanced cancer is scarce. This study aims to explore social consequences of advanced cancer as experienced by patients and their informal caregivers.

METHODS

Seven focus groups and seven in-depth semi-structured interviews with patients (n = 18) suffering from advanced cancer and their informal caregivers (n = 15) were conducted. Audiotapes were transcribed verbatim and open coded using a thematic analysis approach.

RESULTS

Social consequences were categorized in three themes: "social engagement," "social identity," and "social network." Regarding social engagement, patients and informal caregivers said that they strive for normality by continuing their life as prior to the diagnosis, but experienced barriers in doing so. Regarding social identity, patients and informal caregivers reported feelings of social isolation. The social network became more transparent, and the value of social relations had increased since the diagnosis. Many experienced positive and negative shifts in the quantity and quality of their social relations.

CONCLUSIONS

Social consequences of advanced cancer are substantial. There appears to be a great risk of social isolation in which responses from social relations play an important role. Empowering patients and informal caregivers to discuss their experienced social consequences is beneficial. Creating awareness among healthcare professionals is essential as they provide social support and anticipate on social problems. Finally, educating social relations regarding the impact of advanced cancer and effective support methods may empower social support systems and reduce feelings of isolation.

Caregiver Communication About Cancer: Development of a mhealth resource to support family caregiver communication burden

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to illustrate an evidence-based and theoretically informed mhealth resource (smartphone app) designed to provide communication support for informal cancer caregivers (friends or family members).

METHODS

An eight-step process was conducted: (a) review of existing print resources, (b) selection of theoretical framework for content development, (c) integration of stakeholder feedback and literacy assessment into an alpha print model, (d) review of existing mhealth resources, (e) development of prototype, (f) assessment of caregiver acceptability (n = 5), (g) assessment of quality and perceived impact by cancer providers (n = 26), and (h) acceptability testing with caregivers (n = 6).

RESULTS

Key stakeholders were integrated throughout development and user testing of this iOS smartphone app. The smartphone app consists of talking tips and resources for caregiver communication with the patient, family, far away family, and health care providers, as well as general information sharing features.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates feasibility and development of an evidence-based and theory-driven mhealth resource to support caregiver communication about cancer. This is the first theory-driven mhealth application created to support the communication burden experienced by cancer caregivers. A larger study is needed to establish the efficacy of the app as an intervention for caregivers.

Lung cancer and family-centered patient concerns

BACKGROUND

The risk factors, diagnosis, management, and outcomes for lung cancer (LC) are a family experience. Genetic and environmental factors interact to predispose certain groups to LC, including family member, and the family or caregiving unit experiences the disease course as an interdependent group. This qualitative study examined the concerns and preferences of LC patients about incorporating family in addressing their lung cancer experiences and cancer risks.

METHODS

This project aims to identify concerns and preferences for addressing family history documentation, risk assessment, prevention, and follow-up issues for LC patients and their family. We held focus groups (FG) to discuss the format and timing of addressing these preferences and concerns. The qualitative data was analyzed using a grounded theory approach.

RESULTS

7 FG totaling 17 participants were conducted. The mean age was 64. All patients had advanced lung cancer. Participants included five males; nine African-Americans; three current, 11 former and three never smokers. Five participants had parents or grandparents with LC. Two had siblings with LC. Six themes were identified: (1) Varied journeys to LC diagnosis. (2) Mixed patient perceptions of cancer causation. (3) Limited documentation and utilization of family history. (4) Diverse attitudes toward smoking cessation. (5) A range of discussions about cancer risk, prevention, and screening. (6) Implications for implementation of family-centered cancer care and health promotion.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnosis of LC, its management, and outcomes occur in the family context. The diagnosis represents a potential teachable moment with opportunity to reduce the risk of LC development or improve early detection in a population at higher risk of developing lung cancer. Lung cancer patients are interested in discussing risk factors, prevention, and diagnosis of lung cancer for their relatives.

Employing patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures to support newly diagnosed patients with melanoma: Feasibility and acceptability of a holistic needs assessment intervention

PURPOSE

Living with a melanoma diagnosis can be challenging. We aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and perceived value of a nurse-led intervention that utilised patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures to identify and address the supportive care needs of newly diagnosed patients with Stage I/II melanoma over the first 4 months post-diagnosis.

METHODS

We conducted an exploratory, repeated-measures, single-arm, feasibility trial. One baseline (4 weeks post-diagnosis; T1) and one follow-up intervention session (4 weeks after wide local excision; T3) took place, two months apart. Patient survey data were collected monthly, at four assessment points (T1-T4), followed by exit interviews.

RESULTS

A recruitment rate of 55% (10/18) was achieved. The skin cancer nurse specialist (CNS) performed 19 in-clinic patient assessments within 6 months. One patient missed their follow-up intervention session (90% retention rate). Three participants (30%) were lost to follow-up at T4. Patients endorsed the standardised use of easy-to-use PRO measures as a means to help them shortlist, report and prioritise their needs. The CNS viewed the intervention as a highly structured activity that allowed tailoring support priority needs. A sizeable reduction in information needs was found from T1 to T4 (Standardised Response Mean [SRM] change = -0.99; p < 0.05). From T1 to T2, significant reductions in psychological (SRM change = -1.18; p < 0.001), practical (SRM change = -0.67; p < 0.05) and sexuality needs (SRM change = -0.78; p < 0.05) were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The intervention appears to be feasible in clinical practice and acceptable to both patients with newly diagnosed melanoma and clinicians. Future research is warranted to test its effectiveness against standard care.

Peer advice giving from posttreatment to newly diagnosed esophageal cancer patients

The benefits of peer support in cancer care include the sharing of information and experience, supporting adjustment by providing an illness trajectory which cancer patients can use to prepare for their own cancer journey. Information from peers is prioritized by esophageal cancer patients, yet the content of this experiential information is not well understood. The purpose of this study is to understand the content of peer advice giving from posttreatment to newly diagnosed esophageal cancer patients. Esophageal cancer survivors (n = 23) at median 67-months postdiagnosis completed a single open-ended survey item which asked for advice they would give to individuals newly diagnosed with esophageal cancer on how to cope emotionally with the cancer journey (including adjusting to life after treatment). Transcripts were assessed using qualitative content analysis, with five categories of advice identified: social support, psychological approach, realistic expectations, support from healthcare professionals and self-care. The categories of advice reported were distinct from information needs prioritized by clinicians. This study demonstrates that experiential information is accessible and has the potential to identify neglected information and supportive care needs, and may have a potential use in delivery of psychological support to newly diagnosed patients.

Engaging rural communities in genetic research: challenges and opportunities

Statistical analyses of health and disease in rural communities is frequently limited by low sample counts. Still, some studies indicate increased risk for some diseases even after adjustment for known risk factors. It has been hypothesized that the context of community formation in rural areas facilitates the propagation of genetic founder effects-potentially impacting disease susceptibility. However, outright examination of genetic diversity in such communities has not been performed. Our objective was to engage otherwise research-inexperienced rural communities of largely European descent in genomic research in the context of cancer susceptibility. From September 2015 to February 2016, we implemented a systematic process of progressive community engagement. This iterative method sought project buy-in from first the town mayor, then village council. If approved by both, a focus group of community members examined how residents might view the research, informed consent and specimen collection, and issues of privacy. We were successful in engaging three of the four communities approached for the research project. There was universal enthusiasm for the project by all mayors and village councils. The focus groups' main point of discussion involved wording in the informed consent, with little concern regarding the research question or privacy. Perhaps contrary to popular thought, we found each community we approached to be both welcoming and enthusiastic about collaborating in research on genomic diversity. The systematic method of engagement did much to preserve community respect and autonomy and facilitated buy-in.

Cancer Communication and Family Caregiver Quality of Life

Family caregivers have enormous communication responsibilities tied to caregiving, such as sharing the patient’s medical history with providers, relaying diagnosis and prognosis to other family members, and making decisions about care with the patient. While caregiver stress and burden has been widely documented in the caregiving literature, little is known about how communication burden, real or perceived communication challenges, impacts caregiver quality of life. In family caregiving, the City of Hope (COH) Quality of Life model proposes that the caregiving experience is reciprocal to the patient experience, impacting physical, social, psychological, and spiritual quality of life. We used data from a pilot study testing a communication coaching call intervention with family caregivers of lung cancer patients to analyze caregiver reported communication burden and quality of life. We found variances in each quality of life domain, suggesting that caregiver interventions should range from self-care skill building for physical care to psycho-educational interventions that support caregiver coping and communication skill building. These findings demonstrate the importance of caregiver assessment and attention to communication burden in quality cancer care.