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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2008 Dec 15;113(12):3459-66.
doi: 10.1002/cncr.23968.

Cancer patient preferences for quality and length of life

Neal J Meropol  1 , Brian L Egleston, Joanne S Buzaglo, Al B Benson 3rd, Donald J Cegala, Michael A Diefenbach, Linda Fleisher, Suzanne M Miller, Daniel P Sulmasy, Kevin P Weinfurt; CONNECT Study Research Group
Collaborators, Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Cancer patient preferences for quality and length of life

Neal J Meropol et al. Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Optimal patient decision making requires integration of patient values, goals, and preferences with information received from the physician. In the case of a life-threatening illness such as cancer, the weights placed on quality of life (QOL) and length of life (LOL) represent critical values. The objective of the current study was to describe cancer patient values regarding QOL and LOL and explore associations with communication preferences.

Methods: Patients with advanced cancer completed a computer-based survey before the initial consultation with a medical oncologist. Assessments included sociodemographics, physical and mental health state, values regarding quality and length of life, communication preferences, and cancer-related distress.

Results: Among 459 patients with advanced cancer, 55% placed equal valued on QOL and LOL, 27% preferred QOL, and 18% preferred LOL. Patients with a QOL preference had lower levels of cancer-related distress (P < .001). A QOL preference was also associated with older age (P = .001), male sex (P = .003), and higher educational level (P = .062). Patients who preferred LOL over QOL desired a more supportive and less pessimistic communication style from their oncologists.

Conclusions: These data indicate that a values preference for LOL versus QOL may be simply measured, and is associated with wishes regarding the nature of oncologist communication. Awareness of these values during the clinical encounter could improve decision making by influencing the style and content of the communication between oncologists and their patients.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00244868.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
QOL-LOL preferences among patients with different cancer types.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cancer related distress and quality of life versus length of life preferences. The center bars represent the means of the propensity score adjusted Total RIES measurements, while the whiskers represent the 95% confidence intervals. P<0.001 for a hypothesis test of the equality of the three means.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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