Changes in perception of prognosis in the last year of life of patients with advanced cancer and its associated factors: Longitudinal results of the eQuiPe study.

This episode features Moyke Versluis (Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands Graduate school of Social and behavioral sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands).

 

What is already known about the topic?

• Patients who are aware of their limited prognosis are more likely to be actively involved in advance care planning.
• Many patients with advanced cancer are unaware of their limited prognosis.

 

What this paper adds?

• More patients with advanced cancer become aware of their limited prognosis during their last year of life.
• Some patients do not want to know their prognosis, and their wish to not know their prognosis is persistent during their last year of life.

 

Implications for practice, theory, or policy

• It is important for physicians to recognise that the patients’ perception of prognosis may change as the disease progresses and to invite patients to discuss their needs and wishes regularly.
• Although some patients may prefer not to know their prognosis, it remains important to respectfully explore their preferences and wishes for end-of-life care.

 

Full paper available from:    

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02692163241301220

 

If you would like to record a podcast about your published (or accepted) Palliative Medicine paper, please contact Dr Amara Nwosu:

a.nwosu@lancaster.ac.uk