Poster Presentation COSA-IPOS Joint Scientific Meeting 2012

Japanese cancer patients’ preferences for life expectancy discussions (#617)

Lisa Mackenzie 1 2 , Eiji Suzuki 3 , Masakazu Ogura 4 , Mariko Carey 2 , Rob Sanson-Fisher 2 , Hiromi Asada 4 , Maskazu Toi 3 , Masahiro Hiraoka 4 , Katsue Tatsuno 4 , Catherine D'Este 2 5 6
  1. Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
  2. Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  3. Breast Surgery, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
  4. Radiation Oncology & Image-applied Therapy, Kyoto University Hospital [2], Kyoto, Japan
  5. Priority Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, The University of Newcastle [2], Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  6. Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Newcastle [3], Newcastle, NSW, Australia

This study aimed to describe Japanese cancer patients’ willingness to answer survey questions about life expectancy; and to describe patients’ preferences for life expectancy disclosure. Adult cancer patients (planned n = 200) undergoing radiotherapy treatment at a Japanese university hospital are being recruited during 2012. Patients are asked to complete a touch screen computer survey assessing their preferences for cancer communication and care. Respondents indicating that they are aware of their (cancer) diagnosis are asked if they were willing to answer questions about their life expectancy [replication of 1]. These questions assess patients’ preferences for and experiences of life expectancy discussions. Forty patients completed the survey during April 2012. Preliminary findings suggest that 83% of these respondents (95% CI: 67%, 94%) are willing to answer questions about their life expectancy. There was strong agreement from patients that their radiation oncologist should: ask them if they want to discuss life expectancy (17%; 95% CI: 5.6-35%); tell the patients’ partner or family the news and let them decide whether to tell the patient (17%; 95% CI: 5.6-35%); and just tell the patient the news that the radiation therapist thinks the patient can cope with (10%; 95% CI: 2.1-27%). There was strong disagreement with these statements by 10% (95% CI: 2.1-27%); 3.3% (95% CI: 2.1-27%); and 13% (95% CI: 3.8-31%) respectively. These finding suggest there is variation in Japanese cancer patients’ preferences for life expectancy disclosure. There is a need to investigate and consider individual patient characteristics associated with different preferences for life expectancy disclosure.

  1. Mackenzie, L. Sanson-Fisher, R. Carey, M. Hall, A. II-2: Who should make disclosure decisions? Cancer patients' preferences for life expectancy disclosure. IPOS 13th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology, 16 - 20 October 2011, Antalya, Turkey.