Clinical variables are associated with treatment satisfaction in patients with breast, lung, and colorectal cancer

Abstract

6608 Background: The association between clinical variables (e.g. disease stage/type, side effects, ECOG performance status (PS)) and patient-reported treatment satisfaction has received little attention, despite the potential implications for treatment adherence and decision-making. We examined the relation between clinical variables and treatment satisfaction in a U.S. sample of patients with breast (BC), lung (LC), or colorectal (CRC) cancer using the Cancer Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (CTSQ), a recently validated 16-item measure designed to assess expectations of therapy (ET), feelings about side effects (FSE), and satisfaction with therapy (SWT). Methods: Cancer stage, line of therapy, physician-reported ECOG PS, presence vs. absence of medication side effects, and perceived change in cancer over the last two weeks were obtained on patients. These clinical variables were examined in relation to the ET, FSE, and SWT scales of the CTSQ. Higher scale scores indicated better outcomes (e.g., better satisfaction). Group means were compared using one-way ANOVAs; trends of scale scores across clinical variables were also examined. Results: Participants were 349 patients with early and late stage BC (n=137), CRC (n=121), or LC (n=91) who had ≥ 1 cycles of chemo-, bio-, or hormonal therapy in the last 6 months. In all cancer types, FSE differed by presence of side effects (BC<.03; CRC<.01; LC<.02). In BC patients, FSE differed by stage, and ET differed significantly depending on ECOG PS (p<.006) and perceived change (p<.05). For CRC patients, ET significantly differed by stage (p<.05) and perceived change (p<.02); and SWT by presence of side effects (p<.01). SWT also differed by perceived change (p<.01) for LC patients. Most trends were in the expected direction. Conclusions: These results indicate that patient-reported satisfaction with therapy is correlated with clinical variables. On average, patients who perceive less improvement in their cancer, have side effects, and poorer ECOG PS are less satisfied with their current cancer therapy. Unknown is the impact of this relation on adherence and decision-making. Recent changes in healthcare suggests that treatment satisfaction may become an increasingly important measure of clinical outcome. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Treatment Satisfaction and Burden of Illness in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma

“…Association between clinical variables and treatment satisfaction has been reported in studies of patients with other malignancies. In US patients with breast cancer, physician-reported ECOG PS was associated with expectations for therapy [30]. In older and younger patients included in the University of North Carolina Health Registry Cancer Survivorship Cohort, better self-reported ECOG PS was associated with higher satisfaction with care [31].…”