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. 2015 Jun;4(6):800-7.
doi: 10.1002/cam4.422. Epub 2015 Jan 30.

Quality of life and disease understanding: impact of attending a patient-centered cancer symposium

Leslie Padrnos  1 , Amylou C Dueck  2 , Robyn Scherber  1 , Pamela Glassley  3 , Rachel Stigge  3 , Donald Northfelt  3 , Joseph Mikhael  3 , Annette Aguirre  3 , Robert M Bennett  4 , Ruben A Mesa  3
Affiliations

Quality of life and disease understanding: impact of attending a patient-centered cancer symposium

Leslie Padrnos et al. Cancer Med. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

To evaluate the impact of a patient-centered symposium as an educational intervention on a broad population of cancer patients. We developed a comprehensive patient symposium. Through voluntary questionnaires, we studied the impact of this cancer symposium on quality of life, cancer-specific knowledge, and symptom management among cancer patients. Symposium attendees were provided surveys prior to and 3 months following the educational intervention. Surveys included (1) EORTC-QLQ-C30; (2) disease understanding tool developed for this conference; (3) validated disease-specific questionnaires. Changes over time were assessed using McNemar's tests and paired t-tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. A total of 158 attendees completed the pre-convention survey. Most respondents reported at least "quite a bit" of understanding regarding treatment options, screening modalities, symptomatology, and cancer-related side effects. Attendees endorsed the least understanding of disease-related stress, risk factors, fatigue management, and legal issues related to disease/treatment. At 3 months, there was improvement in understanding (12 of 14 areas of self-reported knowledge especially regarding nutrition, and stress/fatigue management). However, no significant change was seen in QLQ-C30 functioning, fatigue, pain, or insomnia. A patient symposium, as an educational intervention improves a solid knowledge base amongst attendees regarding their disease, increases knowledge in symptom management, but may be insufficient to impact QoL as a single intervention.

Keywords: Cancer education; cancer survivorship; cancer symposia; educational intervention; patient education; quality of life.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of participant enrollment.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Number of specific cancer diagnoses reported in pre-intervention participants. N = 158 individuals.
Figure 3
Figure 3
number of specific cancer diagnoses reported in post-intervention participants. N = 115 individuals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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