Anna Costantini1, Luigi Grassi2,3, Angelo Picardi4, Serena Brunetti1, Rosangela Caruso2,3, Maria Giulia Nanni2,3, Luisa Bonetti5, Rossana de Feudis6, Sandro Barni7, Paolo Marchetti8. 1. Psycho-Oncology Departmental Unit, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 2. Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. 3. University Hospital Psychiatry Unit, Psycho-Oncology and Psychiatry in Palliative Care Program, Department of Mental Health, Ferrara, Italy. 4. Mental Health Unit, Centre of Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy. 5. Psycho-Oncology Service, Azienda Ospedaliera Treviglio, Treviglio, Italy. 6. Clinical Psychology Unit, Medical Oncology Unit, San Paolo Hospital, Bari, Italy. 7. Division of Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Treviglio, Treviglio, Italy. 8. Unit of Medical Oncology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine awareness of cancer and the relationship with distress and satisfaction with care among Italian cancer patients. METHODS: Two hundred sixty-two cancer patients consecutively admitted to the Day Hospital of four cancer centers in Italy completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30, the EORTC Inpatient Satisfaction-32, the EORTC Information Questionnaire-25, the distress thermometer, the Mini-mental Adjustment to Cancer scale, a visual analogue scale of illness awareness, and questions related to the admission and unmet needs. RESULTS: Eighty-seven percent of patients were aware of their diagnosis, but 49% of those with metastatic cancer thought they have a curable disease. About one-third felt that family members often (16%) or always (13%) were hiding information or bad news in order to protect them. In multivariate analysis, the perception of being protected from bad news by the family was associated with the perceived need to talk more with the family but was not associated with demographic or clinical (Karnofsky Performance Status and stage) variables, lower emotional distress, and greater satisfaction with care and information. Also, awareness of diagnosis and prognosis was not associated with demographic or clinical variables, emotional distress, or satisfaction with care and information CONCLUSIONS: Most cancer patients were fully informed about their diagnosis, although awareness of disease was not coincident with awareness of prognosis and disease progression. Information and knowledge were not destructive of hope and did not increase distress. Family issues are still a significant factor molding openness and sharing of information.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine awareness of cancer and the relationship with distress and satisfaction with care among Italian cancerpatients. METHODS: Two hundred sixty-two cancerpatients consecutively admitted to the Day Hospital of four cancer centers in Italy completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30, the EORTC Inpatient Satisfaction-32, the EORTC Information Questionnaire-25, the distress thermometer, the Mini-mental Adjustment to Cancer scale, a visual analogue scale of illness awareness, and questions related to the admission and unmet needs. RESULTS: Eighty-seven percent of patients were aware of their diagnosis, but 49% of those with metastatic cancer thought they have a curable disease. About one-third felt that family members often (16%) or always (13%) were hiding information or bad news in order to protect them. In multivariate analysis, the perception of being protected from bad news by the family was associated with the perceived need to talk more with the family but was not associated with demographic or clinical (Karnofsky Performance Status and stage) variables, lower emotional distress, and greater satisfaction with care and information. Also, awareness of diagnosis and prognosis was not associated with demographic or clinical variables, emotional distress, or satisfaction with care and information CONCLUSIONS: Most cancerpatients were fully informed about their diagnosis, although awareness of disease was not coincident with awareness of prognosis and disease progression. Information and knowledge were not destructive of hope and did not increase distress. Family issues are still a significant factor molding openness and sharing of information.
Authors: Eleonora Pinto; Francesco Cavallin; Luca Maria Saadeh; Maria Cristina Bellissimo; Rita Alfieri; Silvia Mantoan; Matteo Cagol; Carlo Castoro; Marco Scarpa Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2017-12-19 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Teresa García-García; Alberto Carmona-Bayonas; Paula Jimenez-Fonseca; Carlos Jara; Carmen Beato; Beatriz Castelo; Montserrat Mangas; Eva Martínez de Castro; Avinash Ramchandani; David Gomez; Caterina Calderón Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2019-11-26 Impact factor: 4.430
Authors: Maria Angela Mazzi; Cinzia Perlini; Giuseppe Deledda; Alberto Ghilardi; Chiara Buizza; Alessandro Bottacini; Claudia Goss; Lidia Del Piccolo Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-09-29 Impact factor: 2.692