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. 2013 Jun 15;119(12):2342-9.
doi: 10.1002/cncr.28046. Epub 2013 Apr 4.

The relation between cancer patient treatment decision-making roles and quality of life

Pamela J Atherton  1 , Tenbroeck Smith, Jasvinder A Singh, Jef Huntington, Brent B Diekmann, Mashele Huschka, Jeff A Sloan
Affiliations

The relation between cancer patient treatment decision-making roles and quality of life

Pamela J Atherton et al. Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to explore relations between patient role preferences during the cancer treatment decision-making process and quality of life (QOL).

Methods: One-year cancer survivors completed a survey in 2000 as part of a larger survey conducted by the American Cancer Society. The current report was based on survey respondents from Minnesota (response rate, 37.4%). Standardized measures included the Profile of Mood States (scores were converted to have a range, from 0 to 100, with 100 indicating the best mood), the Medical Outcomes Survey 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) (standardized scores), and the Control Preferences Scale. Patients' actual and preferred role preference distributions and concordance between roles were compared with QOL scores using 2-sample t test methodology.

Results: The actual role of survivors (n = 594) in cancer care was 33% active, 50% collaborative, and 17% passive. Their preferred role was 35% active, 53% collaborative, and 13% passive. Overall, 88% of survivors had concordant preferred and actual roles. Survivors who had concordant roles had higher SF-36 Physical Component Scale (PCS) scores (P < .01), higher vitality (P = .01), less fatigue (P < .01), less confusion (P = .01), less anger (P = .046), and better overall mood (P = .01). These results were similar among both women and younger individuals (aged <60 years). Survivors who had active actual roles had higher PCS scores (P < .01), less tension (P = .04), and higher vitality (P = .04) than survivors who were either collaborative or passive. No differences existed in QOL scores according to preferred role.

Conclusions: Survivors who experienced discordance between their actual role and their preferred role reported substantial QOL deficits in both physical and emotional domains. These results indicate the need to support patient preferences.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Control Preferences Scale.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Profile of Mood States Scores by Role Played
Statistically significant differences occurred for Tension/Anxiety and Vigor/Activity. P-values are based on the Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test.
Figure 3
Figure 3. SF-36 Scores by Role Played
The Physical Component score was statistically significantly different between roles played. P-values are based on the Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Use of Patient Reported Outcomes to Enhance Patient-Centered Care
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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