Jude E Cléophat1,2,3, Sylvie Pelletier1, Alberte Déry4, Yann Joly5, Pierre Gagnon1,3,6, Ana Marin7,8,9, Jocelyne Chiquette1,3,6,8, Bruno Gagnon1,3,6, Louis Roy8, Vasiliki Bitzas10, Hermann Nabi1,3,6,11, Michel Dorval1,2,3,9. 1. Research Center of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval (Quebec City University Hospital Research Center), Oncology Division, Quebec City, QC, Canada. 2. Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada. 3. Laval University Cancer Research Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada. 4. Association Québécoise de Soins Palliatifs (Quebec Palliative Care Association), Granby, QC, Canada. 5. Center of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. 6. Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada. 7. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada. 8. CHU de Québec-Université Laval (Quebec City University Hospital-Laval University), Quebec City, QC, Canada. 9. Research Center of the CISSS de Chaudière-Appalaches (Chaudière-Appalaches Integrated Center for Health and Social Services), Lévis, QC, Canada. 10. Jewish General Hospital, Palliative Care Unit, Montreal, QC, Canada. 11. French National Institute of Health and Medical Research Institute, Epidemiology and Population Health Research Center, INSERM U.1018, Villejuif, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Palliative care providers may face questions from patients and relatives regarding the heritability of cancers. Implications of such discussions for providers have been little explored. This study aimed to gather palliative care providers' views on their main needs, roles, and ethical concerns regarding cancer family history discussions. METHOD: The palliative care providers who participated in the 2015 and 2017 annual meetings of the Quebec Palliative Care Association were approached to complete a web-based questionnaire. Study participants answered the questionnaire between November 2016 and July 2017. They were asked to identify the most facilitating factor for cancer family history discussions, as well as their most important knowledge needs, potential role, and ethical concerns. Descriptive analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Ninety-four palliative care providers answered the questionnaire. Access to specialized resources to obtain information and protocols or guidelines were considered the most facilitating factors for cancer family history discussions by 32% and 20% of providers, respectively. Knowledge of hereditary cancers was the most relevant educational need for 53%. Thirty-eight per cent considered essential to be informed about their rights and duties regarding cancer family history discussions. Being attentive to patients' concerns and referring families to appropriate resources were identified as the most relevant roles for palliative care providers by 47% and 34% of respondents, respectively. Fifty-eight per cent agreed that cancer family history discussions should be initiated only if beneficial to family members. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Education on hereditary cancers made consensus among palliative care providers as the most important knowledge need regarding discussing cancer family history at the end of life. Nonetheless, other less commonly expressed needs, including access to genetics specialists, protocols, or guidelines, and awareness of provider rights and duties concerning such discussions, deserve attention. Answering providers' needs might help optimize cancer predisposition management in palliative care.
OBJECTIVE: Palliative care providers may face questions from patients and relatives regarding the heritability of cancers. Implications of such discussions for providers have been little explored. This study aimed to gather palliative care providers' views on their main needs, roles, and ethical concerns regarding cancer family history discussions. METHOD: The palliative care providers who participated in the 2015 and 2017 annual meetings of the Quebec Palliative Care Association were approached to complete a web-based questionnaire. Study participants answered the questionnaire between November 2016 and July 2017. They were asked to identify the most facilitating factor for cancer family history discussions, as well as their most important knowledge needs, potential role, and ethical concerns. Descriptive analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Ninety-four palliative care providers answered the questionnaire. Access to specialized resources to obtain information and protocols or guidelines were considered the most facilitating factors for cancer family history discussions by 32% and 20% of providers, respectively. Knowledge of hereditary cancers was the most relevant educational need for 53%. Thirty-eight per cent considered essential to be informed about their rights and duties regarding cancer family history discussions. Being attentive to patients' concerns and referring families to appropriate resources were identified as the most relevant roles for palliative care providers by 47% and 34% of respondents, respectively. Fifty-eight per cent agreed that cancer family history discussions should be initiated only if beneficial to family members. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Education on hereditary cancers made consensus among palliative care providers as the most important knowledge need regarding discussing cancer family history at the end of life. Nonetheless, other less commonly expressed needs, including access to genetics specialists, protocols, or guidelines, and awareness of provider rights and duties concerning such discussions, deserve attention. Answering providers' needs might help optimize cancer predisposition management in palliative care.
Entities:
Keywords:
Genetic predisposition to disease; Medical history taking; Neoplasm; Palliative care; Surveys and questionnaires