Preference of Japanese cancer patients for being informed about their prognosis

Abstract

Background: Prognostic information, which consists of life expectancy, functional prognosis, and uncertainty, of cancer patients is essential. However, the evidence regarding the prognostic preferences of cancer patients is limited. To clarify the prognostic preferences of cancer patients and whether cancer patients want to be informed about their prognosis.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional web-based anonymous survey through a private survey company in January 2022. We assessed whether patients would prefer to be informed about their life expectancy and functional prognosis, and explored correlations between patients' backgrounds.Results: A total of 132 patients responded to the survey. The mean age was 63.1±9.3, and 67 (50.8%) were male. The most frequent primary tumor was gastrointestinal/hepatobiliary and pancreatic (n=43, 32.6%).Among the patients, 26.6% answered "Strongly agree" or "Agree" to wanting to be informed about their life expectancy, and 33.6-46.9%. wanted to be informed of their functional prognosis. Experience of a family member that had died from cancer had a significant correlation with the preference to be informed about "Life expectancy" (r s =0.344, P<0.001), "Moving freely" (r s =0.210, P=0.016), and "Proper communication" (r s =0.344, P=0.038).Conclusions: More cancer patients wanted to be informed about their functional prognosis than their life expectancy. In addition, the experience of a family member that had died of cancer had a significant correlation with the preference for wanting to be informed about their life expectancy and functional prognosis.

Recent trends in bone metastasis treatments: A historical comparison using the new Katagiri score system

“…Much more patients in the HSG may have a chance of benefiting from orthopedic treatment. Recently, patient surveillance studies indicated that many patients desire survival with preserved ADL rather than simply prolonging survival[ 13 ]. It is very important to keep patients’ ADL with bone metastases by various interventions.…”

Prediction of Survival in Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Narrative Review and Future Research Priorities

“…Prognostic information about functional ability is essential alongside survival estimation to allow patients with serious illness and their families to consider and decide on a future care plan. As most patients want to maintain their physical independence, predicting their functional ability could help empower them to act toward achieving their wishes and goals [ 19 ]. A recent study indicated that patients with cancer wanted more information about their functional prognosis than about their life expectancy [ 19 ].…”

“…As most patients want to maintain their physical independence, predicting their functional ability could help empower them to act toward achieving their wishes and goals [ 19 ]. A recent study indicated that patients with cancer wanted more information about their functional prognosis than about their life expectancy [ 19 ]. Hiratsuka et al developed the Functional Palliative Prognostic Index (FPPI), which was the first scoring system for functional prognostication of patients with advanced cancer [ 20 ].…”

“…Prognostic communication is usually embedded in EOL discussions and advance care planning (ACP), which occur throughout the disease trajectory [ 21 ]. Prognostic information entails several components, including life expectancy, possibility of further treatment, and anticipated changes in quality of life (QOL) and functional abilities [ 19 , 20 , 22 ]. This information could be delivered explicitly or implicitly and with some reassurance statements, depending on patients’ preferences [ 23 ].…”