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van der Velden NCA, Smets EMA, van Vliet LM, Brom L, van Laarhoven HWM, Henselmans I. Effects of Prognostic Communication Strategies on Prognostic Perceptions, Treatment Decisions and End-Of-Life Anticipation in Advanced Cancer: An Experimental Study among Analogue Patients. J Pain Symptom Manage 2024; 67:478-489.e13. [PMID: 38428696 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.02.563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Evidence-based guidance for oncologists on how to communicate prognosis is scarce. OBJECTIVES To investigate the effects of prognostic communication strategies (prognostic disclosure vs. communication of unpredictability vs. non-disclosure; standard vs. standard and best-case vs. standard, best- and worst-case survival scenarios; numerical vs. word-based estimates) on prognostic perceptions, treatment decision-making and end-of-life anticipation in advanced cancer. METHODS This experimental study used eight videos of a scripted oncological consultation, varying only in prognostic communication strategies. Cancer-naive individuals, who imagined being the depicted patient, completed surveys before and after watching one video (n = 1036). RESULTS Individuals generally perceived dying within 1 year as more likely after prognostic disclosure, compared to communication of unpredictability or non-disclosure (P < 0.001), and after numerical versus word-based estimates (P < 0.001). Individuals felt better informed about prognosis to decide about treatment after prognostic disclosure, compared to communication of unpredictability or non-disclosure (P < 0.001); after communication of unpredictability versus non-disclosure (P < 0.001); and after numerical versus word-based estimates (P = 0.017). Chemotherapy was more often favored after prognostic disclosure versus non-disclosure (P = 0.010), but less often after numerical versus word-based estimates (P < 0.001). Individuals felt more certain about the treatment decision after prognostic disclosure, compared to communication of unpredictability or non-disclosure (P < 0.001). Effects of different survival scenarios were absent. No effects on end-of-life anticipation were observed. Evidence for moderating individual characteristics was limited. CONCLUSION If and how oncologists discuss prognosis can influence how individuals perceive prognosis, which treatment they prefer, and how they feel about treatment decisions. Communicating numerical estimates may stimulate prognostic understanding and informed treatment decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi C A van der Velden
- Department of Medical Psychology (N.C.A.V., E.M.A.S., I.H.), Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health (N.C.A.V., E.M.A.S., I.H.), Quality of Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam (N.C.A.V., E.M.A.S., I.H., H.W.M.L.), Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Ellen M A Smets
- Department of Medical Psychology (N.C.A.V., E.M.A.S., I.H.), Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health (N.C.A.V., E.M.A.S., I.H.), Quality of Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam (N.C.A.V., E.M.A.S., I.H., H.W.M.L.), Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Liesbeth M van Vliet
- Department of Health, Medical and Neuropsychology (L.M.V.), University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Linda Brom
- Department of Research and Development (L.B.), Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands; Netherlands Association for Palliative Care (PZNL) (L.B.), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hanneke W M van Laarhoven
- Cancer Center Amsterdam (N.C.A.V., E.M.A.S., I.H., H.W.M.L.), Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Oncology (H.W.M.L.), Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Inge Henselmans
- Department of Medical Psychology (N.C.A.V., E.M.A.S., I.H.), Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health (N.C.A.V., E.M.A.S., I.H.), Quality of Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam (N.C.A.V., E.M.A.S., I.H., H.W.M.L.), Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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van der Velden NCA, Smets EMA, van Vliet LM, Brom L, van Laarhoven HWM, Henselmans I. Effects of prognostic communication strategies on emotions, coping, and appreciation of consultations: An experimental study in advanced cancer. Palliat Support Care 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38533613 DOI: 10.1017/s1478951524000403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate effects of prognostic communication strategies on emotions, coping, and appreciation of consultations in advanced cancer. METHODS For this experimental study, we created 8 videos of a scripted oncological consultation, only varying in prognostic communication strategies. Disease-naive individuals (n = 1036) completed surveys before and after watching 1 video, while imagining being the depicted cancer patient. We investigated effects of the type of disclosure (prognostic disclosure vs. communication of unpredictability vs. non-disclosure) and content of disclosure (standard vs. standard and best-case vs. standard, best- and worst-case survival scenarios; numerical vs. word-based estimates) on emotions, coping, and appreciation of consultations. Moderating effects of individual characteristics were tested. RESULTS Participants generally reported more satisfaction (p < .001) after prognostic disclosure versus communication of unpredictability and less uncertainty (p = .042), more satisfaction (p = .005), and more desirability (p = .016) regarding prognostic information after numerical versus word-based estimates. Effects of different survival scenarios were absent. Prognostic communication strategies lacked effects on emotions and coping. Significant moderators included prognostic information preference and uncertainty tolerance. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS In an experimental setting, prognostic disclosure does not cause more negative emotions than non-disclosure and numerical estimates are more strongly appreciated than words. Oncologists' worries about harming patients should not preclude disclosing (precise) prognostic information, yet sensitivity to individual preferences and characteristics remains pivotal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi C A van der Velden
- Department of Medical Psychology, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Quality of Care, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ellen M A Smets
- Department of Medical Psychology, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Quality of Care, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Liesbeth M van Vliet
- Department of Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Linda Brom
- Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Association for Palliative Care (PZNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hanneke W M van Laarhoven
- Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Inge Henselmans
- Department of Medical Psychology, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Quality of Care, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Cox C, Hatfield T, Moxey J, Fritz Z. Creating and administering video vignettes for a study examining the communication of diagnostic uncertainty: methodological insights to improve accessibility for researchers and participants. BMC Med Res Methodol 2023; 23:296. [PMID: 38102577 PMCID: PMC10722843 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-023-02072-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studying clinician-patient communication can be challenging, particularly when research seeks to explore cause-and-effect relationships. Video vignettes - hypothetical yet realistic scenarios - offer advantages to traditional observational approaches by enabling standardisation and manipulation of a clinician-patient encounter for assessment by participants. While published guidelines outline stages to create valid video vignette studies, constructing high quality vignettes which are accessible to a wide range of participants and feasible to produce within time and budget restraints remains challenging. Here, we outline our methods in creating valid video vignettes to study the communication of diagnostic uncertainty. We aim to provide practically useful recommendations for future researchers, and to prompt further reflection on accessibility issues in video vignette methodology. METHODS We produced four video vignettes for use in an online study examining the communication of diagnostic uncertainty. We followed established guidelines for vignette production, with specific consideration of how these might be applied pragmatically to save time and resources. Scripts were pilot-tested with 15 laypeople, and videos with 14 laypeople; pilot-testing involved both quantitative and qualitative analysis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION We demonstrate the usefulness of existing guidelines, while also determining that vignette production need not necessarily be expensive or time-consuming to be valid. Our vignettes were filmed using an iPhone camera, and featured a physician rather than a professional actor; nonetheless, pilot-testing found them to be internally and externally valid for experimental use. We thus propose that if care is taken in initial script development and if pragmatic choices are made regarding filming techniques and pilot-testing, researchers can produce valid vignettes within reasonable time and budget restraints. We also suggest that existing research fails to critically examine the potential benefits and harms of online video vignette methodology, and propose that further research should consider how it can be adapted to be inclusive of those from underserved backgrounds. CONCLUSIONS Researchers creating video vignette studies can adapt the video vignette development process to suit time and budget constraints, and to make best use of available technology. Online methods may be harnessed to increase participant accessibility, but future research should explore more inclusive vignette design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitríona Cox
- The Healthcare Improvement Studies (THIS) Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Thea Hatfield
- The Healthcare Improvement Studies (THIS) Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jordan Moxey
- The Healthcare Improvement Studies (THIS) Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Zoë Fritz
- The Healthcare Improvement Studies (THIS) Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Sanders JJ, Blanch-Hartigan D, Ericson J, Tarbi E, Rizzo D, Gramling R, van Vliet L. Methodological innovations to strengthen evidence-based serious illness communication. PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING 2023; 114:107790. [PMID: 37207565 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2023.107790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE A growing population of those affected by serious illness, prognostic uncertainty, patient diversity, and healthcare digitalization pose challenges for the future of serious illness communication. Yet, there is paucity of evidence to support serious illness communication behaviors among clinicians. Herein, we propose three methodological innovations to advance the basic science of serious illness communication. RESULTS First, advanced computation techniques - e.g. machine-learning techniques and natural language processing - offer the possibility to measure the characteristics and complex patterns of audible serious illness communication in large datasets. Second, immersive technologies - e.g., virtual- and augmented reality - allow for experimentally manipulating and testing the effects of specific communication strategies, and interactional and environmental aspects of serious illness communication. Third, digital-health technologies - e.g., shared notes and videoconferences - can be used to unobtrusively observe and manipulate communication, and compare in-person to digitally-mediated communication elements and effects. Immersive and digital health technologies allow integration of physiological measurement (e.g. synchrony or gaze) that may advance our understanding of patient experience. CONCLUSION/PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS New technologies and measurement approaches, while imperfect, will help advance our understanding of the epidemiology and quality of serious illness communication in an evolving healthcare environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin J Sanders
- Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | | | - Jonathan Ericson
- Department of Information Design and Corporate Communication, Bentley University, Waltham, MA, USA.
| | - Elise Tarbi
- Department of Nursing, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Donna Rizzo
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Robert Gramling
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
| | - Liesbeth van Vliet
- Department of Health and Medical Psychology, University of Leiden, Netherlands
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