TY - JOUR
T1 - Recordings of consultations are beneficial in the transition from curative to palliative cancer care
T2 - A pilot-study in patients with oesophageal or head and neck cancer
AU - Uitdehaag, Madeleen J.
AU - van der Velden, Lilly Ann
AU - de Boer, Maarten F.
AU - Spaander, Manon C.W.
AU - Steyerberg, Ewout W.
AU - Kuipers, Ernst J.
AU - Siersema, Peter D.
AU - Pruijn, Jean F.A.
PY - 2012/4
Y1 - 2012/4
N2 - Purpose: There is reluctance in providing incurable cancer patients with recordings of their consultation. In this pilot-study, we explored the feasibility and utility of providing consultation recordings when patients are told a new diagnosis of non-curable cancer, and the impact of the recordings on quality of life and the openness to discuss cancer-related issues in the family. Method: Seventeen patients with a new diagnosis of incurable oesophageal or head and neck cancer were randomized to receive a CD (n = 10) or no CD (n = 7) of their consultation in which the diagnosis was told and the decision to provide only palliative care was discussed. Data were collected before consultation and 1 week and 1 month afterwards. After 1 month, patients allocated to the control group were offered to receiving the CD of their consultation as well. Results: No major technical or procedural problems were encountered. Three-quarters of the patients appreciated receiving the CD, which was listened to by 8/10 patients and by 10/10 others in the CD group. After 1 month, two-thirds of the patients in the control group also asked to receive the CD. We found a trend towards a poorer quality of life but an improved openness to discuss cancer-related issues, in the CD group. Conclusion: The provision of a CD recording on the consultation in which the transition from a curative to a palliative care stage was communicated is feasible and was well-received by most cancer patients and their family. These findings require however verification in a study with a larger sample size.
AB - Purpose: There is reluctance in providing incurable cancer patients with recordings of their consultation. In this pilot-study, we explored the feasibility and utility of providing consultation recordings when patients are told a new diagnosis of non-curable cancer, and the impact of the recordings on quality of life and the openness to discuss cancer-related issues in the family. Method: Seventeen patients with a new diagnosis of incurable oesophageal or head and neck cancer were randomized to receive a CD (n = 10) or no CD (n = 7) of their consultation in which the diagnosis was told and the decision to provide only palliative care was discussed. Data were collected before consultation and 1 week and 1 month afterwards. After 1 month, patients allocated to the control group were offered to receiving the CD of their consultation as well. Results: No major technical or procedural problems were encountered. Three-quarters of the patients appreciated receiving the CD, which was listened to by 8/10 patients and by 10/10 others in the CD group. After 1 month, two-thirds of the patients in the control group also asked to receive the CD. We found a trend towards a poorer quality of life but an improved openness to discuss cancer-related issues, in the CD group. Conclusion: The provision of a CD recording on the consultation in which the transition from a curative to a palliative care stage was communicated is feasible and was well-received by most cancer patients and their family. These findings require however verification in a study with a larger sample size.
KW - CD recording
KW - Feasibility study
KW - Head and neck cancer
KW - Oesophageal cancer
KW - Oncology consultations
KW - Palliative care
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84857654495&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ejon.2011.04.006
DO - 10.1016/j.ejon.2011.04.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 21600848
AN - SCOPUS:84857654495
SN - 1462-3889
VL - 16
SP - 109
EP - 114
JO - European Journal of Oncology Nursing
JF - European Journal of Oncology Nursing
IS - 2
ER -
