Ellen Krueger1, Ekin Secinti2, Wei Wu2, Nasser Hanna3, Gregory Durm3, Lawrence Einhorn3, Shadia Jalal3, Catherine E Mosher2. 1. Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 North Blackford Street, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. efkruege@iu.edu. 2. Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 North Blackford Street, LD 124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. 3. Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Little research has assessed cancer patients' success criteria and priorities for symptom improvement to inform patient-centered care. Thus, we modified and tested a measure of these constructs for advanced lung cancer patients. We compared acceptable severity levels following symptom treatment across eight symptoms and identified patient subgroups based on symptom importance. METHODS: Advanced lung cancer patients (N=102) completed a one-time survey, including the modified Patient-Centered Outcomes Questionnaire (PCOQ), standard symptom measures, and other clinical characteristics. RESULTS: The modified PCOQ showed evidence of construct validity through associations with theoretically related constructs. Symptom severity and importance were moderately correlated. Levels of acceptable symptom severity were low and did not differ across the eight symptoms. Four patient subgroups were identified: (1) those who rated all symptoms as low in importance (n=12); (2) those who rated bronchial symptoms and sleep problems as low in importance and all other symptoms as moderately important (n=29); (3) those who rated nausea and emotional distress as low in importance and all other symptoms as moderately important (n=23); and (4) those who rated all symptoms as highly important (n=33). Subgroups were unrelated to clinical characteristics, except for functional status. CONCLUSION: The modified PCOQ showed evidence of construct validity. Patients considered low symptom severity to be acceptable, irrespective of the symptom. Findings suggest that symptom severity and importance are related yet distinct aspects of the advanced lung cancer symptom experience. Patients have heterogeneous priorities for symptom improvement, which has implications for tailoring treatment.
PURPOSE: Little research has assessed cancer patients' success criteria and priorities for symptom improvement to inform patient-centered care. Thus, we modified and tested a measure of these constructs for advanced lung cancer patients. We compared acceptable severity levels following symptom treatment across eight symptoms and identified patient subgroups based on symptom importance. METHODS: Advanced lung cancer patients (N=102) completed a one-time survey, including the modified Patient-Centered Outcomes Questionnaire (PCOQ), standard symptom measures, and other clinical characteristics. RESULTS: The modified PCOQ showed evidence of construct validity through associations with theoretically related constructs. Symptom severity and importance were moderately correlated. Levels of acceptable symptom severity were low and did not differ across the eight symptoms. Four patient subgroups were identified: (1) those who rated all symptoms as low in importance (n=12); (2) those who rated bronchial symptoms and sleep problems as low in importance and all other symptoms as moderately important (n=29); (3) those who rated nausea and emotional distress as low in importance and all other symptoms as moderately important (n=23); and (4) those who rated all symptoms as highly important (n=33). Subgroups were unrelated to clinical characteristics, except for functional status. CONCLUSION: The modified PCOQ showed evidence of construct validity. Patients considered low symptom severity to be acceptable, irrespective of the symptom. Findings suggest that symptom severity and importance are related yet distinct aspects of the advanced lung cancer symptom experience. Patients have heterogeneous priorities for symptom improvement, which has implications for tailoring treatment.
Authors: Jennifer A Shin; Jesse D Kosiba; Lara Traeger; Joseph A Greer; Jennifer S Temel; William F Pirl Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2014-04-21 Impact factor: 3.612
Authors: Melisa L Wong; Bruce A Cooper; Steven M Paul; Jon D Levine; Yvette P Conley; Fay Wright; Marilyn Hammer; Christine Miaskowski Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2017-05-19 Impact factor: 3.612
Authors: Jonas Kuon; Jeannette Vogt; Anja Mehnert; Bernd Alt-Epping; Birgitt van Oorschot; Jochen Sistermanns; Miriam Ahlborn; Ulrike Ritterbusch; Susanne Stevens; Christoph Kahl; Anne Ruellan; Kathrin Matthias; Thomas Kubin; Kerstin Stahlhut; Andrea Heider; Florian Lordick; Michael Thomas Journal: Oncol Res Treat Date: 2019-10-21 Impact factor: 2.825
Authors: M Dodd; S Janson; N Facione; J Faucett; E S Froelicher; J Humphreys; K Lee; C Miaskowski; K Puntillo; S Rankin; D Taylor Journal: J Adv Nurs Date: 2001-03 Impact factor: 3.187
Authors: Michael E Robinson; Jennifer L Brown; Steven Z George; Penny S Edwards; James W Atchison; Adam T Hirsh; Lori B Waxenberg; Virgil Wittmer; Roger B Fillingim Journal: Pain Med Date: 2005 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 3.750
Authors: Atul Batra; Lin Yang; Devon J Boyne; Andrew Harper; Winson Y Cheung; Colleen A Cuthbert Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2020-07-16 Impact factor: 3.603