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Publication

Prognostic understanding and quality of life in patients with advanced lung cancer

Journal Contribution - Journal Article

Subtitle:a multicenter study
Communication about the palliative setting remains difficult for many physicians. This seems a valid concern. Our study has shown that prognostic understanding will be associated with poorer emotional well-being and more pain but not with a worse mood. A poor mood has a detrimental effect on all aspects of quality of life. Our data suggest the need for psychological support, in addition to communication about the palliative setting. Introduction: Communication about the palliative setting remains a barrier for many physicians because they are afraid to harm the patient by giving bad news. We sought to determine whether this a valid concern; the influence of prognostic understanding on patients' quality of life (QoL); and which factors influence this relationship. Methods: The present multicenter, cross-sectional study used a questionnaire to measure patients' prognostic understanding, QoL, mood, and coping strategy. Results: We surveyed 125 patients with advanced lung cancer. Prognostic understanding correlated significantly with emotional well-being (r = -0.20; P = .01) and pain (r = 0.43; P = .00) but not with anxiety (r = 0.12, P = .12) or depression (r = 0.05; P = -.29). Patients with anxiety (r = -0.23; P = .01) and patients with depressive feelings (r = -0.63; P = .00) experienced poorer QoL. Four in 10 patients reported feelings of anxiety and/ or depression. Positive reframing as a coping strategy was associated with a better QoL (r = - 0.25; P = .00). Conclusion: Prognostic understanding was related to poorer emotional well-being and more pain but does not affect mood. Four in 10 patients reported feelings of anxiety and/or depression, which were associated with a poorer QoL. A holistic approach seems necessary when physicians communicate about the palliative setting. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Journal: Clinical lung cancer
ISSN: 1525-7304
Volume: 20
Pages: E369 - E375
Publication year:2019
Keywords:A1 Journal article
BOF-keylabel:yes
BOF-publication weight:1
CSS-citation score:1
Authors from:Higher Education
Accessibility:Closed