- Title
- Radiation oncology outpatients' patterns of life expectancy discussions
- Creator
- Waller, Amy; Mackenzie, Lisa; Carey, Mariko; Sanson-Fisher, Rob
- Relation
- ARC.DE150101262 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DE150101262
- Relation
- European Journal of Cancer Care Vol. 28, Issue 4
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ecc.13021
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2019
- Description
- Objectives: To describe the (a) number and type of cancer care providers that radiation oncology outpatients report discussing life expectancy with, and (b) perceptions of the acceptability and utility of life expectancy information. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey of patients receiving radiotherapy was undertaken in four treatment centres. Patients indicated whether they had discussed life expectancy with a cancer doctor (i.e., medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeon, haematologists) and/or other cancer care provider (i.e., general practitioner, radiation therapist, nurse); and acceptability and utility of information. Results: Of 207 respondents, 133 (64%) had discussed life expectancy with at least one provider. General practitioners (GPs) were the most frequent source of information. Of those who had discussed life expectancy, half (n = 110/207) perceived cancer would not impact life expectancy. Information was easy to understand (91%), discussed sensitively (90%), helped plan for future (83%) and gave them certainty (86%). The information made 11% feel overloaded and 34% feel anxious. Conclusion: Two‐thirds of respondents had discussed life expectancy with at least one cancer care provider. Providers from the range of disciplines involved in cancer care need to be skilled at communicating life expectancy information and recognising the adverse impact this may have on some patients.
- Subject
- communication; end of life; life expectancy; patient-centred care; SDG 3; Sustainable Development Goals
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1410617
- Identifier
- uon:36207
- Identifier
- ISSN:0961-5423
- Rights
- This is the peer reviewed version of the above article, which has been published in final form at: https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.13021. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
- Language
- eng
- Full Text
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