New Approach for Collecting Cancer Patients’ Views and Preferences Through Medical Staff

Cancer patients require a complex multidisciplinary therapy. In this context the 3D additive biological manufacturing could represent a significant development with potential significant medical and social consequences. This article reviews the 3D bioprinting methods and clinical settings in which this new revolutionary method could be applied. Apart from the actual field of post-cancer therapy prosthetics and medical education, this method could be applied in the actual molecular cancer research and organ regeneration/fabrication. Considering all of these, it is possible that in the future, 3D biological printing could be used on a regular basis in clinical oncology.

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Clinical trials participation is directly influenced by the information received by cancer patients (pts) and caregivers: Real-world evidence with the use of a specialized digital health platform.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.e18779 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. e18779-e18779

Author(s):

Keren Greenfeld-Barsky ◽

Lior Hasid ◽

Daniel A. Vorobiof ◽

Eliran Malki

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Treatment Option ◽

Medical Staff ◽

Digital Health ◽

Participation Rate ◽

Current Data ◽

Common Reason ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Common Diagnosis

e18779 Background: Clinical trials (CT) participation is both crucial for medical advancement and an important treatment option, at times the only one, for oncological pts. However, only an estimate of ̃3% of cancer pts worldwide enrolls into such trials. Different factors have been implicated in underlying this low participation rate, with little current data on patients’ own perspective. In this study, pts & caregivers’ perception, knowledge and experience with CT were assessed via a unique digital health platform. Methods: 290 American and Israeli members of Belong.life cancer application (app) anonymously & voluntarily replied to a 10 questions survey detailing their demographics, diagnosis, and experience with CT as a treatment option. Results: 234 participants were pts (81%) and 56 (19%) caregivers. 73% of participants were US based. 35 participants (12%) were < 50 years of age (yoa), 94 (32%) were 50-59 yoa, 117 (40%) were 60-69 and 44 (15%) were > 70 yoa. There were 79 males and 211 females.The most common diagnosis was breast cancer in 74 (26%), hematologic in 36 (12%), lung in 35 (12%), colorectal in 26 (9%) and ovarian in 26 (9%). Stages were 4 in 117 (40%) and 3 in 52 (18%), early (1&2) in 73 (25%). 134 (46%) have not heard about CT participation as a treatment option. Among 125 participants of the 134 who were not familiar with CT as a treatment option, 115 (92%) stated they would like to learn more about it. Among the 156 participants who were acquainted with this option, 52 (33%) heard about it from medical staff, 41(26%) from multiple online resources, and 39 (25%) only through the Belong.life app. Only 23 participants (8%) previously participated in a CT. The most common reason for not participating was not being offered this treatment option (55, 49%) followed by lack of suitable trials for their condition (26, 23%). The most common reason for considering it was to receive an innovative treatment (60, 44%). Conclusions: Almost half of the pts and caregivers were not aware of CT participation as a valid treatment option. Among them, nearly all have expressed an interest to be better informed. This significant dissonance was also evident among those aware but who were not offered to participate, while expressing a favorable perception regarding participation. While the medical staff is a key source for CT awareness, and whilst patients are exposed to multiple online sources of information, this survey confirmed that 25% of Belong.life members received information about CT availability and participation singly from the app and 8% of them actively participated in a clinical trial. In sum, emphasis should be placed on providing personally tailored CT information to all cancer patients and caregivers. Digital health platforms are an important source for patients CT awareness.

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Differences in practice and preferences associated with truth-telling to cancer patients

Nursing Ethics ◽

10.1177/0969733020945754 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 096973302094575

Author(s):

Jing Wu ◽

Yan Wang ◽

Xiaodong Jiao ◽

Jingting Wang ◽

Xuchun Ye ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Medical Staff ◽

Family Members ◽

Mainland China ◽

Disease Diagnosis ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Truth Telling ◽

Chi Square ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Significant Difference

Background: Doctors should disclose the diagnosis to patients according to the principle of autonomy. However, not disclosing the diagnosis and prognosis to cancer patients remains common in mainland China. Objective: The study explored the experiences and attitudes of patients with cancer, family members, and the medical staff in truth-telling. Research design: A quantitative survey with three closed-ended questionnaires was conducted. Participants: In all, 137 patients with cancer, 134 family members caring for cancer cases, and 54 medical staff were surveyed. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize all characteristics, and the chi-square test was performed to analyze group differences in attitudes toward cancer disclosure. Ethical considerations: This study was approved by the Committee on Ethics of Biomedicine Research, at the Second Military Medical University (HJEC-2018-YF-001). Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to study commencement. Findings: A total of 59.8% of patients were informed about their diagnosis within 1 week, and 19.7% inferred theirs. The medical staff preferred to prioritize family members in informing about patient diagnosis while 77.4% of patients preferred to be told the whole truth at the time of initial diagnosis. More patients than family members and medical staff wanted the patients to be informed about the diagnosis ( p < 0.001). A significant difference was found between the patients and family members regarding who should tell the patients. Discussion: The willingness of patients in knowing the truth was underestimated by their family members as well as the medical staff. Guessing the truth indirectly may exert negative effects on the patients, and not telling the truth is inappropriate in patients who want to be informed. Conclusion: Disclosure of a cancer diagnosis is a complex process involving medical practice, as well as a range of cultural, ethical, and legal factors. The medical staff should first assess each patient’s willingness in truth-telling and inform about disease diagnosis with respect. Emotional support and comfort from family members are encouraged. Anyone in the patient’s care team, especially nurses, could be integrated in the process of truth-telling.

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Care for Imminently Dying Cancer Patients: Family Members' Experiences and Recommendations

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2009.23.2793 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 142-148 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Takuya Shinjo ◽

Tatsuya Morita ◽

Kei Hirai ◽

Mitsunori Miyashita ◽

Kazuki Sato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Emotional Distress ◽

Medical Staff ◽

Family Members ◽

Nationwide Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Dying Patients ◽

The Family ◽

High Level ◽

Bereaved Family

Purpose The aim of this study was to clarify the level of emotional distress experienced by bereaved family members and the perceived necessity for improvement in the care for imminently dying patients and to explore possible causes of distress and alleviating measures. Methods A cross-sectional nationwide survey was performed in 2007 of bereaved families of cancer patients at 95 palliative care units across Japan. Results Questionnaires were sent to 670 families, and 76% responded. Families reported their experiences as very distressing in 45% of cases. Regarding care, 1.2% of respondents believed that a lot of improvement was needed, compared with 58% who believed no improvement was needed. Determinants of high-level distress were a younger patient age, being a spouse, and overhearing conversations between the medical staff outside the room at the time of the patient's death; those reporting high-level necessity of improvement were less likely to have encountered attempts to ensure the patient's comfort, received less family coaching on how to care for the patient, and felt that insufficient time was allowed for the family to grieve after the patient's death. Conclusion A considerable number of families experienced severe emotional distress when their family member died. Thus, we propose that a desirable care concept for imminently dying cancer patients should include relief of patient suffering, family advisement on how to care for the patient, allowance of enough time for the family to grieve, and ensuring that family members cannot overhear medical staff conversations at the time of the patient's death.

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