Measuring prognostic awareness in patients with advanced cancer: a scoping review and interpretive synthesis of the impact of hope

Abstract

Background Assessment of prognostic awareness (PA) in patients with advanced cancer is challenging because patient responses often indicate their hopes. The objectives of this scoping review were to summarize studies that measured PA in patients with advanced cancer and to synthesize data about how PA was measured and whether hope was incorporated into the measurement. Methods MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched from inception to December 14, 2021. Data regarding the impact of hope on assessment of PA was extracted when studies reported on patients’ beliefs about prognosis and patients’ beliefs about their doctor’s opinion about prognosis. An interpretive synthesis approach was used to analyze the data and generate theory regarding the incorporation of hope into the assessment of PA. Results In total, 52 studies representing 23,766 patients were included. Most were conducted in high-income countries and measured PA based on goal of treatment (curable vs incurable). Five studies incorporated hope into the assessment of PA and reported that among patients who responded that their treatment goal was cure, an average of 30% also acknowledged that their doctors were treating them with palliative intent. Interpretive synthesis of the evidence generated a trinary conceptualization of PA- patients who are aware and accepting of their prognosis; aware and not accepting; and truly unaware. Each of these groups will benefit from different types of interventions to support their evolving PA. Conclusion The trinary conceptualization of PA may promote understanding of the impact of hope in the assessment of PA and guide future research.