Predictors of satisfaction with treatment decision, decision-making preferences, and main treatment goals in patients with advanced cancer

Purpose

This study investigated satisfaction with treatment decision (SWTD), decision-making preferences (DMP), and main treatment goals, as well as evaluated factors that predict SWTD, in patients receiving palliative cancer treatment at a Swiss oncology network.

Patients and methods

Patients receiving a new line of palliative treatment completed a questionnaire 4–6 weeks after the treatment decision. Patient questionnaires were used to collect data on sociodemographics, SWTD (primary outcome measure), main treatment goal, DMP, health locus of control (HLoC), and several quality of life (QoL) domains. Predictors of SWTD (6 = worst; 30 = best) were evaluated by uni- and multivariate regression models.

Results

Of 480 participating patients in eight hospitals and two private practices, 445 completed all questions regarding the primary outcome measure. Forty-five percent of patients preferred shared, while 44 % preferred doctor-directed, decision-making. Median duration of consultation was 30 (range: 10–200) minutes. Overall, 73 % of patients reported high SWTD (≥24 points). In the univariate analyses, global and physical QoL, performance status, treatment goal, HLoC, prognosis, and duration of consultation were significant predictors of SWTD. In the multivariate analysis, the only significant predictor of SWTD was duration of consultation (p?=?0.01). Most patients indicated hope for improvement (46 %), followed by hope for longer life (26 %) and better quality of life (23 %), as their main treatment goal.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that high SWTD can be achieved in most patients with a 30-min consultation. Determining the patient’s main treatment goal and DMP adds important information that should be considered before discussing a new line of palliative treatment.     

Information needs of patients with incurable cancer

Goals The aims of this study were to describe to what extent cancer patients with incurable cancer report to have been informed about disease-related topics and how they evaluate the quality of the information giving.Patients and methods One hundred and twenty-eight patients participated in our study within 2 months after having had a diagnosis of incurable cancer. They filled out a questionnaire and were interviewed personally. We assessed the level of information, information needs and demographic factors, and we registered the type and duration of the cancer, cancer therapy, other types of received care and contacts with health care professionals. Furthermore, we assessed patients appreciation of the information giving by their health care professionals.Main results The majority of the patients said to have been informed about treatment options, side effects of their treatment, physical symptoms, where to get help, helpful devices, and diet, whereas less than half of the patients were informed about psychosocial care, euthanasia, and complementary care. Of all patients, 39% felt a need for additional information about topics such as physical symptoms, diet, euthanasia, and alternative or complementary care, whereas 19% would have appreciated extra written information. Most patients (78–88%) were satisfied with the information giving by the clinical specialist, oncology nurses, and non-specialised nurses, but only 63% evaluated the information giving by general practitioners as good.Conclusion We conclude that most patients feel sufficiently informed about important disease-specific issues and are satisfied with the information giving by health care professionals. Nevertheless, a considerable number of patients appreciate additional information.     

Life goals and purpose in life in cancer patients

Goal of work  The purpose of the study was to analyze associations between life goals and purpose in life in cancer patients. Patients and methods  A sample of 153 cancer patients was assessed before the start of chemotherapy and about 9 months later. Purpose in life was measured with a German version of Crumbaugh and Maholick’s purpose in life test, and the perceived importance of social, psychological, materialistic, and health-related goals was assessed with Likert scales. Main results  High importance of social, psychological, and health-related goals was related to higher purpose in life. In addition, having high levels of social goals at the first time of measurement predicted an increase in purpose of life over time. However, higher importance of material goals was associated with lower purpose in life at the second time of measurement and with a decline of purpose in life over time. Conclusions  There is continuity and change in the sources of purpose in life during cancer therapy, and a lack of fit between goals and changed living conditions is a risk factor for a decline in purpose in life.     

Hospitalized patients experienced suffering in life with incurable cancer

The concept 'suffering' has been central within nursing since Florence Nightingale. But few researchers have made empirical studies about the lived phenomenon. Several researchers within nursing agree that more research concerning individual groups of patients has to be initiated. Within research about patients with incurable cancer focus has been on death, the terminal period and patients experience of being dying. This qualitative study was initiated to describe the characteristics of a group of Danish hospitalized patients' experienced suffering in life with incurable cancer. Twenty-five semi-structured interviews were arranged with 12 patients ones a week within a period of 4 weeks. In week 2 and 4, the interviews were supplemented by questions developed on the basis of the potential signs of suffering which appeared during the participant observations that took place the day before each interview. C. S. Peirce's semiotic and phenomenological grounded theory of signs was used in order to identify the potential signs. A phenomenological methodology developed by A. Giorgi was used to develop and describe the general structure of the phenomenon. The phenomenon is described as: 'The experience of living in an increasingly unpredictable existents at the mercy of the body, the consciousness, the illness, the death, the treatment, the professionals, one's articulateness, the past, the present and the future, influenced by increasing powerlessness, loneliness and isolation, and the experience of existing in an persistent, and with time, unconquerable struggle to maintain and regain control'.     

Prevalence of myofascial pain syndrome in patients with incurable cancer

Background

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a condition that involves skeletal muscles. It is caused by overload or disuse of muscles and is characterized by extreme tenderness in the muscles with taut bands. Treatment for MPS is different from that for cancer-related pain. Cancer patients have many factors that cause restriction of body movement and posture. Although cancer patients appear to demonstrate risk factors for MPS, its prevalence has not been reported in patients with incurable cancer. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of MPS in patients with incurable cancer.

老年进展期胃癌的外科治疗

胃癌是我国死亡率最高的恶性肿瘤之一,随着人口老龄化,老年患者逐渐增多。根治性手术是治愈进展期胃癌的唯一手段:D2胃癌根治术作为治疗进展期胃癌的标准术式已被普遍接受。几项临床试验已证实与D2根治术相比,扩大手术范围并未使患者术后生存率有更多的获益。为改善进展期胃癌患者的预后,必须强调开展术前TNM分期,以便临床医师根据肿瘤的状况选择合适的治疗方案。微创外科技术在进展期胃癌中的应用仍有争议,需要进一步研究。胃癌术后消化道重建方式是决定术后生活质量的关键因素,理想的重建方式仍有争议。     

晚期癌症患者肠梗阻的临床处理

<正> 在晚期癌症患者中,尤其是腹部或盆腔肿瘤的患者,肠梗阻是常见的并发症。据报道,晚期卵巢癌患者肠梗阻的发生率为5％～42％,晚期结、直肠癌为4％～24％。肠梗阻可以是部分性的,也可以是完全性的;可以是单发的,也可以是多发的;小肠比大肠更易受累(分别为61％、33％),超过20％的患者两者同时受累。在晚期肿瘤患者中,肠梗阻也可能由于良性原因引起,如肠粘连、放疗后肠损伤、炎性肠病和疝。有报道表明,在结肠癌、直肠癌中,良性病因引起的肠梗阻占了一半,而在妇科肿瘤中仅占6％。     

Symptom prevalence in patients with incurable cancer: a systematic review

The suffering of patients with incurable cancer is determined to a large degree by the presence and intensity of the symptoms of their disease. Knowledge of symptom prevalence is important for clinical practice. The main aim of this study was to obtain a reliable estimation of symptom prevalence in patients with incurable cancer by performing a systematic review of studies assessing this topic. We included 44 studies (including 25,074 patients) on overall symptom prevalence (Group 1) and six studies (including 2,219 patients) on symptom prevalence during the last one to two weeks of life (Group 2). In these studies, symptom prevalence was assessed by a questionnaire, a standardized interview, or the medical record. We identified 37 symptoms assessed in at least five studies. Almost all symptoms occurred in more than 10% of the patients. Five symptoms (fatigue, pain, lack of energy, weakness, and appetite loss) occurred in more than 50% of the patients of Group 1. Weight loss occurred significantly more often in Group 2 compared to Group 1, and pain, nausea, and urinary symptoms occurred significantly less often. Generally, symptom prevalence was highest if assessed by a questionnaire. The results of this study should be used to guide doctors and nurses in symptom management. Proper attention to symptom burden and suffering should be the basis for individually tailored treatment aimed at improving or maintaining quality of life of patients in their last period of life.     

Nutritional therapy in advanced cancer. Setting realistic goals

Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome resulting from metabolic disturbances, mechanical obstacles, and behavioral alterations. Assessments of the potential benefits of nutritional support for an individual patient must reflect the cancer stage and prognosis, the patient's expressed wishes, and the impact of treatment on the family unit. Enteral or parenteral alimentation may preserve body mass during aggressive, potentially curative therapy of early cancer. Palliation may be provided for the more advanced patient whose major problem is not being able to eat. In terminal illness, feeding may no longer be therapeutic--it may briefly prolong life with considerable morbidity and expense. At each stage, decisions should be based on realistic assessments of possible gains and losses to the patient's life and overall well-being.     

Controversies over spinal treatment in advanced cancer patients

About 10% of patients with cancer pain do not obtain pain relief or experience unacceptable side effects with systemic opioids. In some cases a change of the route of administration can improve the balance of analgesia and adverse effects. In this paper the use of spinal opioids in such patients is discussed from various aspects: patient selection, epidural vs intrathecal administration, dosage, association with local anaesthetic agents, dosage conversion systems (for the change from systemic administration) and home use. The main problems involved are dealt with an attempt to find how to use the drugs and techniques involved to the best possible advantage.     

Prognostic factors in patients with recently diagnosed incurable cancer: a systematic review

Goals of work To review the literature and develop a conceptual framework about prognostic factors for people presenting to medical oncologists with recently diagnosed incurable cancer.Materials and methods Medline was searched from January 2000 to October 2003 to identify articles testing associations between clinical or laboratory variables and survival time in adults with advanced solid tumours and median survival of 3 to 24 months. We recorded how frequently prognostic factors were significantly associated with survival in univariable and multivariable analyses.Results There were 53 studies included. The factors associated with survival were organised into four categories related to attributes of the host the tumour, the treatment and the interactions between host, tumour and treatment (symptoms, quality of life, performance status and laboratory tests). Co-morbidity was consistently associated with shorter survival. Age and gender were not consistently associated with survival duration, except in lung cancer where females survived longer. Tumour-related factors associated with shorter survival included primary tumour (lung), metastatic site (liver, brain and visceral) and disease extent. Symptoms associated with shorter survival included those of the anorexia–cachexia syndrome, dyspnoea, pain and impaired physical well being. Performance status was strongly associated with survival in most studies. Laboratory tests associated with shorter survival included anaemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminaemia and elevated serum levels of both alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase.Conclusion Prognostic factors in patients with advanced cancer can be conceptualised as attributes of the host, tumour, treatment and interactions between the three reflected in symptoms, quality of life performance status and laboratory tests.Research was supported by Derham Green Fund Research Grant.The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.     

顺铂为主的新辅助化疗方案治疗进展性膀胱癌的疗效分析

目的探讨顺铂为主的新辅助联合化疗方案治疗进展性膀胱癌的临床疗效及毒副作用。方法 54例局部进展性膀胱癌患者中,其中22例术前予MVAC新辅助化疗方案(甲氨喋呤30 mg/m2,第2、15、22天;长春花碱3 mg/m2第2、15、22天;阿霉素30 mg/m2,第2天;和顺铂70 mg/m2第2天)治疗;18例术前接受GC新辅助化疗方案(吉西他滨1000 mg/m2第l,8,15天;顺铂70 mg/m2第2天)治疗;14例患者术前予以DC新辅助化疗(多西紫杉醇75 mg/m2,第1天和顺铂75 mg/m2第2天)方案。所有患者均在术前接受3个周期的新辅助化疗后接受膀胱切术。结果 54例患者中,治疗后完全缓解10例,部分缓解17例,稳定18例,进展9例,有效率为50%(27/54)。中位疾病进展时间为10.1个月,中位生存时间为14.8个月。主要毒副作用为贫血和白细胞减少,其中Ⅲ～Ⅳ度贫血发生率占48.1%,中性粒细胞减少发生率分别为46.3%。结论 顺铂为主的联合化疗方案治疗进展性膀胱癌疗效确切,毒性反应可耐受。     

Symptomatic treatment of infections in patients with advanced cancer receiving hospice care

Symptom control is one of the primary goals of hospice care. We prospectively followed patients with advanced cancer receiving outpatient hospice care to determine if the use of antimicrobials for a clinically suspected infection improved infection-related symptoms. During a 24-month period, 1,731 patients with a cancer diagnosis were admitted to a community-based outpatient hospice program. Over 89% of the patients had a Karnofsky performance of < or =60%. Six hundred twenty-three of 1,598 study patients were diagnosed with a total of 685 infections. Six hundred thirty-three of the infections were treated with antimicrobials for a clinically suspected infection. Symptoms were recorded, clinically indicated cultures were obtained, and antimicrobials were instituted at the discretion of the attending physician. Patients were subsequently monitored to determine the effects of antimicrobials on infection-related symptoms. A complete or a partial response of infection-related symptoms was observed in 79% of 265 patients with urinary tract infections, 43% of 221 patients with respiratory tract infections, 46% of 63 patients with oral cavity infections, 41% of 59 patients with skin or subcutaneous infections, and none of 25 patients with bacteremia. Fifty-two of the infections were not evaluable due to refusal of antimicrobials or receipt of less than 72 hours of antimicrobials. Patient survival in this study was not affected by the presence of infection or the use of antimicrobials. Although the use of antimicrobials improved symptoms in the majority of patients with urinary tract infections, symptom control was less successful in infections of the respiratory tract, mouth/pharynx, skin/subcutaneous tissue, or blood. Physicians should be aware of the limitations of the use of antimicrobials in patients with advanced cancer receiving hospice care. Treatment guidelines are proposed emphasizing the importance of patient preferences and the use of symptom control as the major indication for the use of antimicrobials in this patient population.     

Depression in patients with advanced cancer

Sadness is a normal reaction to the fears, anxieties, and uncertainties during any stage of cancer but is especially problematic during the advanced stage. Depressive symptoms and syndromes frequently coexist during this time and affect quality of life. Depression is an overlooked and undertreated symptom during late-stage cancer. This article provides an overview of the epidemiology, neurophysiology, diagnostic and screening approaches, risk factors, and treatment modalities for depression in patients with advanced cancer.     

Xerostomia in patients with advanced cancer

The aim of the study was to investigate the features of xerostomia in patients with advanced cancer. The protocol involved completion of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, and measurement of the unstimulated whole salivary flow rate (UWSFR) and the stimulated whole salivary flow rate (SWSFR). One hundred twenty patients participated in the study. Xerostomia was the fourth most common symptom (78% of patients). It was associated with a poor performance status (P = 0.01). The usual cause of xerostomia was drug treatment. There was an association with the total number of drugs prescribed (P = 0.009): the median number of xerostomic drugs prescribed was 4. Xerostomia was ranked the third most distressing symptom. Its severity was correlated with the severity of oral discomfort, dysgeusia, dysmasesia, dysphagia, dysphonia, and anorexia. The UWSFR was a relatively sensitive, but nonspecific, investigation. In contrast, the SWSFR was a relatively specific, but insensitive, investigation.     

Fatigue in patients with advanced cancer

In recent years, as treatment options for cancer sufferers have become more successful but also more exhausting, fatigue has become increasingly distressing and extreme for these patients. Despite this, the assessment and management of fatigue is frequently overlooked by health-care professionals. This article will focus on the assessment and management of cancer-related fatigue in patients with advanced cancer, assessing the evidence base in order to guide practice in a subject that poses a particular challenge to palliative care practitioners.     

Cachexia in patients with advanced cancer

Cancer cachexia generally is considered to be the end stage in the progression of nutritional deterioration and wasting of malignancy (Ottery, 1995). In patients with advanced cancer, this condition is very common and decreases quality of life, as well as survival (Fearon et al., 2001; Ottery; Smith & Souba, 2001; Whitman, 2000). However, if early diagnosis and intervention can control cachexia, the potential exists to greatly improve a patient's quality of life and prolong survival. Because metabolic alterations inhibit the effective use of conventional nutritional support, anti-inflammatory agents or fish oil are possible options. Orexigenic agents may be prescribed if patients wish to improve oral intake. Steroids and progestational agents may be used to attempt to improve mood and appetite. Nutrition affects symptoms that need to be managed effectively. Nurses should work aggressively to correct factors that contribute to decreased food intake (e.g., nausea, pain) and correct factors that worsen debility (e.g., anemia). Information must be presented so that informed choices can be made and realistic eating goals set. An interdisciplinary approach that involves the nurse, physician, dietician, and possibly social worker or case manager, as well as the patient and family, is necessary to identify nutritional alterations, assess specific needs, and plan individual interventions. Whitman (2000) stated that counseling is the most effective and least expensive intervention. It may be conducted by any member of the healthcare team and should be combined with other interventions. Palliation of cachexia in patients with advanced cancer is a challenge for nurses. Hopefully, early and judicious use of these interventions may decrease the significant morbidity and mortality that result from cancer cachexia.     

晚期肿瘤患者疼痛护理措施

目的通过对晚期肿瘤患者疼痛护理,解除或减轻患者的痛苦,以提高患者的生活质量。方法护士正确掌握三阶梯给药原则及药物不良反应与处理,对患者的疼痛进行正确评估,予以心理支持及疼痛护理。结果按三阶梯给药原则,结合有效的心理护理,50例患者疼痛有效控制率达到96%。结论护理人员通过细致入微的临床护理,给予必要的药物治疗和心理支持,减轻了晚期肿瘤患者的痛苦,改善了患者的生活质量。     

奥沙利铂联合氟尿嘧啶、亚叶酸钙治疗晚期胃癌的临床观察

目的观察奥沙利铂（L-OHP）联合氟尿嘧啶（Fu）、亚叶酸钙（CF）治疗晚期胃癌的近期疗效和毒副反应。方法60例晚期胃癌患者,给予奥沙利铂130mg／m2,静脉滴注2h,第1天;亚叶酸钙200mg／m2,静脉滴注2h,随后氟尿嘧啶400mg／m2静脉快速冲入,氟尿嘧啶600mg／m2持续滴注44h,每3周重复。按WHO标准评价近期疗效和毒性反应。结果60例患者完全缓解（CR）6例,部分缓解（PR）14例,稳定（SD）30例,进展（PD）10例,有效率33％,临床受益率83％,平均疾病进展时间5．2个月,平均生存期9．6个月,1年生存率55％。主要毒副反应为恶心呕吐、骨髓抑制及轻度的外周神经系统病变。结论L-OHP联合FU、CF方案治疗晚期胃癌疗效较好,毒副反应可以耐受,值得临床推广。