Abstract 2597
Background
Cancer holds a huge psychosocial impact. Understanding the diagnosis and treatment gives cancer patients a feeling of autonomy and self-control. The patients’ perspective and expectations on the qualities of a medical oncologist are still poorly known.
Methods
Observational cross-sectional study of cancer patients observed in a Portuguese peripheral hospital in October 2018. When patients knew the primary tumour site, stage of disease and intent of treatment they were considered to have “Full knowledge”. Descriptive statistics and univariate analysis were performed, considering a CI of 95%.
Results
Seventy-two patients were included. Most were men (56.9%), with a median age of 60 years and 65.3% had an ECOG PS of 1. Patients reported feelings of shock (43.0%), sadness (38.9%), fear (34.7%) and courage (33.3%) when they became aware of their oncological diagnosis. About 12.5% of patients needed evaluation by Psychology/Psychiatry on the first 3 months after diagnosis, of which 2/3 had a history of depressive or anxiety disorders. The majority of patients (78%) received the diagnosis in a consultation, 12.5% in the emergency department with 4.2% being informed by their relatives (4.2%). About 90% of patients stated they knew their diagnosis while 5.6% were not sure. Correct identification of the primary tumour site occurred in 87% of patients and 81.9% knew the disease stage. Of those under treatment (n = 58), almost 20% did not understand its intention. About 54% of patients had "full knowledge" of the disease and treatments. There was no significant correlation between socio-demographic and clinical variables and "full knowledge" of the disease, and only age approached the significance level (p = 0.083). Patients mostly valued kindness (62.5%), honesty (55.6%) and knowledge (47.2%) in a medical oncologist.
Conclusions
Despite the majority of patients claiming to be aware of their disease, almost half did not understand the disease stage or treatment intention. Clear communication can contribute to a greater sense of knowledge, autonomy and adaptation to the disease, potentially influencing quality of life.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
5141 - Mutational profiling of tumor tissue and sequential plasma illustrates emergent clones during treatment in late stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
Presenter: Stephanie Yaung
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5189 - Association between serum HGF levels and neutrophil counts in small cell lung cancer and their impact on survival
Presenter: Laura Moliner
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3539 - Prognostic role of RLF/MYCL1 and circPVT1 in SCLC.
Presenter: Clelia Tiziana Storlazzi
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3438 - High-biologically effective dose radiotherapy improve the survival of small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases: a propensity-matching analysis
Presenter: Qingyang Zhuang
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3232 - Phase 1 open-label study evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of ABBV-181 and rovalpituzumab tesirine (ROVA-T) in patients with small cell lung cancer
Presenter: Emiliano Calvo
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3633 - Activity of the novel Aurora kinase B inhibitor AZD2811 in biomarker-defined models of small cell lung cancer
Presenter: Carminia Maria Della Corte
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3745 - Multi-level proteomics identifies FABP5 as a primary chemoresistance mediator in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer
Presenter: Yamei Chen
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5049 - CLEPSIDRA trial: a pilot, biomarker-guided study to assess safety, tolerability, dose finding and efficacy of iadademstat in combination with platinum-etoposide in patients with relapsed, extensive-stage small cell lung cancer
Presenter: Alejandro Navarro Mendivil
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5997 - Phased Avelumab combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with advanced small-cell lung cancer (SCLC): The PAVE study, a Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group Study
Presenter: Helena Linardou
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4502 - Tobacco use in lung cáncer (LC) patients (p) in Spain
Presenter: Enric Carcereny Costa
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract