Patient and provider experiences with active surveillance: A scoping review

DCIS knowledge of women choosing between active surveillance and surgery for low-risk DCIS

BACKGROUND

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) can progress to invasive breast cancer (IBC), but often never will. As we cannot predict accurately which DCIS-lesions will or will not progress to IBC, almost all women with DCIS undergo breast-conserving surgery supplemented with radiotherapy, or even mastectomy. In some countries, endocrine treatment is prescribed as well. This implies many women with non-progressive DCIS undergo overtreatment. To reduce this, the LORD patient preference trial (LORD-PPT) tests whether mammographic active surveillance (AS) is safe by giving women with low-risk DCIS a choice between treatment and AS. For this, sufficient knowledge about DCIS is crucial. Therefore, we assessed women's DCIS knowledge in association with socio-demographic and clinical characteristics.

METHODS

LORD-PPT participants (N = 376) completed a questionnaire assessing socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, risk perception, treatment choice and DCIS knowledge after being informed about their diagnosis and treatment options.

RESULTS

66 % of participants had poor knowledge (i.e., answered ≤3 out of 7 knowledge items correctly). Most incorrect answers involved overestimating the safety of AS and misunderstanding of DCIS prognostic risks. Overall, women with higher DCIS knowledge score perceived their risk of developing IBC as being somewhat higher than women with poorer knowledge (p = 0.049). Women with better DCIS knowledge more often chose surgery whilst most women with poorer knowledge chose active surveillance (p = 0.049).

DISCUSSION

Our findings show that there is room for improvement of information provision to patients. Decision support tools for patients and clinicians could help to stimulate effective shared decision-making about DCIS management.

The experiences of men on active surveillance for prostate cancer and their significant others: A qualitative synthesis

BACKGROUND

Active surveillance (AS) for prostate cancer (PCa) is a monitoring pathway for men with low-grade, slow growing PCa and aims to delay or avoid active treatment by treating only in the case of disease progression. Experiences of this pathway vary but living with an untreated cancer can have a negative psychological impact on both the patient and their significant other (SO). Literature suggests partners are the primary source of support for men on AS, and therefore it is important to consider SO experiences alongside those of the patient. To the best of our knowledge this is the first UK-based qualitative review looking specifically at experiences of AS for both men with PCa and their SOs.

METHODS

MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE, PsychINFO, CINAHL and Cochrane Library were searched for literature reporting qualitative experiences of AS for PCa for either men on AS or SOs (or both). 2769 records were identified and screened, with 28 meeting the eligibility criteria. Qualitative data were synthesised and included men on AS (n = 428), and SOs (n = 51).

RESULTS

Experiences of the AS pathway vary but reports of uncertainty and anxiety were present in the accounts of both men on AS and SOs. SOs are intertwined throughout every part of the PCa journey, and couples presented as a unit that were on AS together. Both patients and SOs expressed a need for more support, and highly valued peer support. Despite this finding, men expressed a dislike towards 'support groups'.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased recognition in clinical practice of SO involvement in AS is needed. Further research is required to explore the specific types of support that would be most acceptable to this population to address the unmet support needs uncovered in this review.

Patient and physician perspectives on treatments for low-risk prostate cancer: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Patients diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) are confronted with a difficult decision regarding whether to undergo definitive treatment or to pursue an active surveillance protocol. This is potentially further complicated by the possibility that patients and physicians may place different value on factors that influence this decision. We conducted a qualitative investigation to better understand patient and physician perceptions of factors influencing treatment decisions for low-risk PCa.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 43 racially and ethnically diverse patients diagnosed with low-risk PCa, who were identified through a population-based cancer registry, and 15 physicians who were selected to represent a variety of practice settings in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area.

RESULTS

Patients and physicians both described several key individual (e.g., clinical) and interpersonal (e.g., healthcare communications) factors as important for treatment decision-making. Overall, physicians' perceptions largely mirrored patients' perceptions. First, we observed differences in treatment preferences by age and stage of life. At older ages, there was a preference for less invasive options. However, at younger ages, we found varying opinions among both patients and physicians. Second, patients and physicians both described concerns about side effects including physical functioning and non-physical considerations. Third, we observed differences in expectations and the level of difficulty for clinical conversations based on information needs and resources between patients and physicians. Finally, we discovered that patients and physicians perceived patients' prior knowledge and the support of family/friends as facilitators of clinical conversations.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that the gap between patient and physician perceptions on the influence of clinical and communication factors on treatment decision-making is not large. The consensus we observed points to the importance of developing relevant clinical communication roadmaps as well as high quality and accessible patient education materials.

The 'inbetweeners': living on a watch and wait approach for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia - a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is an incurable disease; many people with the condition do not require active treatment and are monitored using a watch and wait approach.

AIM

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of people living with a diagnosis of CLL and on watch and wait.

METHODS

Using a descriptive qualitative approach, seven participants on the watch and wait approach were interviewed. Data analysis was guided by systematic text condensation.

FINDINGS

Participants reported anxiety, referring to 'wait and worry'. Their information needs were not met, and they resorted to seeking information on possible future treatments themselves. They also experienced feeling like an imposter because they were not receiving active treatment like other patients with cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

A greater understanding of how information provision affects levels of anxiety and worry among people living with CLL on watch and wait is needed. In addition, clinical nurse specialists could deliver education on the watch and wait approach, supplemented by video-based educational materials developed by the haematology team.

Active surveillance of atypical cartilaginous tumours of bone: short term quality of life measurements

BACKGROUND

In the recent years active surveillance has been introduced for atypical cartilaginous tumours (ACT). This is the first study on the impact of this new treatment approach on patients' quality-of-life. We evaluated general health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients diagnosed with enchondroma or ACT.

METHODS

In this prospective study, patients recently diagnosed with enchondroma and ACT of the long bones were asked to participate. Health-related quality of life (HRQL) was assessed at diagnosis and at six month follow-up, using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS). HRQL of the active surveillance group was compared to the Dutch population and a Dutch sample with locoregional cancer.

RESULTS

In total, 45 patients were included in the study, of which four patients underwent curettage and cryosurgery, 41 patients were under active surveillance. The HRQL of the active surveillance group seemed lower compared to the Dutch population, but similar to patients suffering locoregional cancers. No comparison between the surgery and the active surveillance group could be made. In the active surveillance group no statistical difference was found between baseline and six months follow-up regarding HRQL and pain during rest and activities.

CONCLUSION

Patients diagnosed with non-malignant chondroid tumours have lower HRQL compared to the healthy population. Active surveillance had no adverse effect on patients well-being, after six months active surveillance the HRQL remained unchanged. Interestingly, in our study no impact on mental health was seen, implicating that diagnosed but untreated chondroid tumours do not seem to influence patients anxiety.

Unmet supportive care needs, anxiety and depression in haematology patients during watch-and-wait

OBJECTIVE

There is growing evidence and awareness of the psychological impact of watch-and-wait in patients with indolent haematological malignancy. However, the need for supportive care is unknown. The aims of this study were to investigate prevalence of unmet needs, their psychological associates, and prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptomatology.

METHODS

Adult patients with indolent haematological malignancy, during watch-and-wait (n = 122) were included in this cross-sectional single-centre study. Participants filled out questionnaires on anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire), coping (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II), distress (distress thermometer), disease-specific quality of life (The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire) and supportive care needs (Supportive care needs survey - Dutch short version). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify patient-factors associated with unmet needs.

RESULTS

The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptomatology were both 7.3%. Unmet needs were reported by 35% (n = 43) of patients. After controlling for covariates, higher levels of distress (β = 0.23, p = 0.05), depression (β = 0.41, p = 0.001), poorer coping (β = 0.35, p = 0.002) and younger age (β = -0.16, p = 0.05) were independently associated with more supportive care needs. The highest unmet needs were reported in domain health system, information & patient support (mean = 23.6 ± 23.0) and psychological domain (mean = 18.7 ± 21.8).

CONCLUSIONS

One third of indolent haematology patients during watch-and-wait report unmet supportive care needs. Screening for unmet needs and design of interventions is required. A joint approach focused on psychological care, especially on improving psychological flexibility, should be combined with promoting accessibility to health-services and optimising disease education.

[The problem of medical overuse : Finding a definition and solutions]

High-quality medical care including the concepts of "patient-centered medicine" and "precision medicine" imply medical awareness of measures that are "too much" and thus not appropriate for certain patients in a certain context. Physicians occupy a central role as stewards of limited social resources. Numerous influencing factors can cause a cascading into medical overuse. How to identify and avoid overuse? When is "less medicine" the better medicine for an individual patient?

Quality of life outcomes from a randomized controlled trial of patient navigation in Latina breast cancer survivors

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer survivorship is a life-long process involving challenges to health-care communities and individuals, especially Latinas. Patient Navigation has shown some success in meeting these challenges. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of an enhanced Patient Navigation program (Intervention; PN+) vs Control (PN) over time on general cancer and breast cancer-specific quality of life (QoL) in Latina breast cancer survivors (BCS).

METHODS

We conducted a 2-year, two-arm randomized controlled trial of the "Staying Healthy" program among Latina BCS. The design compared PN+ vs PN over time. We recruited 60 patients into each study arm and randomized them by sequential numerical assignment. PN+ participants received culturally tailored educational materials and active, personalized Patient Navigation services, including phone calls, transportation, and care coordination. PN participants were navigated only upon request. Primary outcomes included general cancer (Functional Assessments of Cancer Therapy [FACTS]-G) and breast cancer-specific (FACT-B) QoL.

RESULTS

PN+ participants had significantly improved QoL measures compared to PN at 6-month follow-up on all subscales (P-values .007-.04) except physical well-being (PWB; P = .11). Intervention effect size coefficient (standard error) for FACT-G overall was 7.9 (3.1); P = .01. For FACT-B, it was 10.9 (3.9); P = .006. Again, all subscales showed significant effects [range 1.7-3.1 (0.8-1.2); P-values .006-.04], except for PWB [1.5 (1.0); P = .16] and social/family well-being (SWB) [2.1 (1.1); P = .06]. There were no differences between groups at baseline.

DISCUSSION

Multiple cultural, psychosocial, and socioeconomic variables contributing to these intervention effects will be addressed in future studies. As the national BCS population continues to increase, more Patient Navigation-focused partnerships among patients, health-care professionals, research groups, and community organizations are needed to improve BCS experiences. The Staying Healthy program has the potential to serve as a national survivorship care model for improving Latina BCS QoL.

Comparing Perspectives of Canadian Men Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer and Health Care Professionals About Active Surveillance

Active surveillance (AS) has gained acceptance as a primary management approach for patients diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer (PC). In this qualitative study, we compared perspectives between patients and health care professionals (HCP) to identify what may contribute to patient-provider discordance, influence patient decision-making, and interfere with the uptake of AS. We performed a systematic comparison of perspectives about AS reported from focus groups with men eligible for AS (7 groups, N = 52) and HCP (5 groups, N = 48) who engaged in conversations about AS with patient. We used conventional content analysis to scrutinize separately focus group transcripts and reached a consensus on similar or divergent viewpoints between them. Patients and clinicians agreed that AS was appropriate for low grade PC and understood the low-risk nature of the disease. They shared the perspective that disease status was a critical factor to pursue or discontinue AS. However, men expressed a greater emphasis on quality of life in their decisions related to AS. Patients and clinicians differed in their perspectives on the clarity, availability, and volume of information needed and offered; clinicians acknowledged variations between HCP when presenting AS, while patients were often compelled to seek additional information beyond what was provided by physicians and experienced difficulty in finding or interpreting information applicable to their situation. A greater understanding of discordant perspectives about AS between patients and HCP can help improve patient engagement and education, inform development of knowledge-based tools or aids for decision-making, and identify areas that require standardization across the clinical practice.

Decision regret in men living with and beyond nonmetastatic prostate cancer in the United Kingdom: A population-based patient-reported outcome study

Objective

Clinical options for managing nonmetastatic prostate cancer (PCa) vary. Each option has side effects associated with it, leading to difficulty in decision‐making. This study aimed to assess the relationship between patient involvement in treatment decision‐making and subsequent decision regret (DR), and quantify the impact of health‐related quality of life (HRQL) outcomes on DR.

Methods

Men living in the United Kingdom, 18 to 42 months after diagnosis of PCa, were identified from cancer registration data and sent a questionnaire. Measures included the Decision Regret Scale (DRS), Expanded Prostate cancer Index Composite short form (EPIC‐26), EQ‐5D‐5L, and an item on involvement in treatment decision‐making. Multivariable ordinal regression was utilized, with DR categorized as none, mild, or moderate/severe regret.

Results

A total of 17 193 men with stage I‐III PCa completed the DRS: 36.6% reported no regret, 43.3% mild regret, and 20.0% moderate/severe regret. The odds of reporting DR were greater if men indicated their views were not taken into account odds ratio ([OR] = 6.42, 95% CI: 5.39‐7.64) or were involved “to some extent” in decision‐making (OR = 4.63, 95% CI: 4.27‐5.02), compared with men who were “definitely” involved. After adjustment, including for involvement, men reporting moderate/big problems with urinary, bowel, or sexual function were more likely to experience regret compared with men with no/small problems. Better HRQL scores were associated with lower levels of DR.

Conclusions

This large‐scale study demonstrates the benefit of patient involvement in treatment decision‐making for nonmetastatic PCa. However, men experiencing side effects and poorer HRQL report greater DR. Promoting engagement in clinical decision‐making represents good practice and may reduce the risk of subsequent regret.

Identifying risk factors for depression and anxiety symptoms in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

PURPOSE

This study assessed whether empirically supported risk factors can identify future depression and anxiety symptoms in a specific cancer type, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

METHODS

Patients enrolled in a CLL treatment clinical trial (N = 106) participated at baseline following informed consent and prior to treatment initiation. Risk factors with empirical support (personal or family psychiatric history, recurrent, advanced or progressive disease, low socioeconomic status, gender, medical comorbidities, and single marital status) and additional risk factors (cancer-specific stress, social contacts, negative life events, absolute lymphocyte counts, treatment group, and fatigue) were measured at baseline to predict depression and anxiety symptoms at 12 months.

RESULTS

Data show 14% (n = 15) and 12% (n = 13) of patients experienced moderate-severe depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses found medical comorbidities predicted 12-month anxiety symptoms (p < 0.05). Also, negative life events predicted depression and anxiety symptoms and fatigue predicted depression symptoms (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Empirically supported risk factors associated with depression and anxiety symptoms are limited in predicting future depression and anxiety symptoms beyond initial screening in patients with CLL. In addition to levels of depression and anxiety symptoms at baseline, negative life events, higher levels of fatigue, and greater medical comorbidities were associated with future depression or anxiety symptoms in patients with CLL.

Nurse-led coaching of shared decision-making for women with ductal carcinoma in situ in breast care centers: A cluster randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Women with breast cancer demand informed shared decision-making. Guidelines support these claims.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether an informed shared decision-making intervention for women with 'ductal carcinoma in situ' comprising an evidence-based decision aid with nurse-led decision coaching enhances the extent of the mutual shared decision-making behavior of patients and professionals regarding treatment options, and to analyze implementation barriers.

DESIGN

Cluster randomized controlled trial with accompanying process evaluation.

SETTING

Certified breast care centers in Germany.

PARTICIPANTS

Women with ductal carcinoma in situ and no previous history of breast cancer facing a primary treatment decision.

METHODS

Sixteen breast centers were randomized to intervention or standard care to recruit 192 patients (partially-blinded). All coaching sessions and physician consultations were videotaped to assess the primary outcome 'extent of patient involvement in shared decision-making' using the MAPPIN-Odyad observer instrument (scores 0 to 4). Secondary endpoints included the sub-measures of the MAPPIN-inventory (MAPPIN-Onurse, MAPPIN-Ophysician, MAPPIN-Opatient, MAPPIN-Qnurse, MAPPIN-Qpatient and MAPPIN-Qphysician), 'informed choice', 'decisional conflict' and 'duration of consultations'. Primary intention-to-treat analyses were on cluster level comparing means of cluster values using t-tests. An accompanying process evaluation was conducted comprising 1) analysis of all video recordings with focus on procedures and intervention fidelity and 2) field notes of researchers and feedback from professionals and patients assessed by questionnaires and interviews with focus on barriers and facilitators for implementation at different time points.

RESULTS

Due to protracted recruitment, the study was terminated after 14 centers had included 64 patients (intervention group 36, control group 28). Patient participation in informed shared decision-making was significantly higher in the intervention group (mean (SD) score 2.29 (0.56) vs. 0.42 (0.51) in the control group; difference 1.88 (95% CI 1.26-2.50, p < 0.0001). 47.7% women in the intervention group made informed choices, but none in the control group, difference 47.7% (95% CI 12.6-82.7%, p = 0.016). In the intervention group physician consultations lasted 12.8 (6.6) min. vs. 24.3 (6.3) min. in the control group. Physicians' attitudes, false incentives and structural barriers hindered implementation of informed shared decision-making. Nurses appreciated their new roles.

CONCLUSIONS

Informed shared decision-making is not yet implemented in German breast care centers. Nurse-led decision coaching grounded on evidence-based patient information enhances informed shared decision-making. Trial registration No. ISRCTN46305518.

Illness and disease: an empirical-ethical viewpoint

Background

The concepts of disease, illness and sickness capture fundamentally different aspects of phenomena related to human ailments and healthcare. The philosophy and theory of medicine are making manifold efforts to capture the essence and normative implications of these concepts. In parallel, socio-empirical studies on patients’ understanding of their situation have yielded a comprehensive body of knowledge regarding subjective perspectives on health-related statuses. Although both scientific fields provide varied valuable insights, they have not been strongly linked to each other. Therefore, the article aims to scrutinise the normative-ethical implications of patient perspectives in building a bridge to the empirical ethics debates.

Main text

Three potential fields of tension between the illness and the disease perspective are presented. Consequently, findings from empirical research examining patient perspectives on illness are displayed and the practical implications and associated ethical issues which arise are discussed. This leads to the conclusion that an explicit and elaborate empirical-ethical methodology is needed to deal appropriately with the complex interaction between patients’ views and the medico-professional view of disease. Kon’s four-stage model of normative-empirical collaboration is then applied against the background of empirical data on patient perceptions. Starting from this exemplary approach, the article suggests employing empirical-ethical frameworks for further research on the conceptual and normative issues, as they help to integrate perspectives from the philosophy of medicine with socio-empirical research.

Conclusion

The combination of theoretical and empirical perspectives suggested contributes to a more nuanced discussion of the normative impact of patients’ actual understanding of illness. Further empirical research in this area would profit from explicitly considering potential ethical issues to avoid naturalistic fallacies or crypto-normative conclusions that may compromise healthcare practice. Vice versa, medico-theoretical debates could be enriched by integrating subjective views of those people who are immediately affected.

Modelling reassurances of clinicians with hidden Markov models

BACKGROUND

A key element in the interaction between clinicians and patients with cancer is reassurance giving. Learning about the stochastic nature of reassurances as well as making inferential statements about the influence of covariates such as patient response and time spent on previous reassurances are of particular importance.

METHODS

We fit Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) to reassurance type from multiple time series of clinicians' reassurances, decoded from audio files of review consultations between patients with breast cancer and their therapeutic radiographer. Assuming a latent state process driving the observations process, HMMs naturally accommodate serial dependence in the data. Extensions to the baseline model such as including covariates as well as allowing for fixed effects for the different clinicians are straightforward to implement.

RESULTS

We found that clinicians undergo different states, in which they are more or less inclined to provide a particular type of reassurance. The states are very persistent, however switches occasionally occur. The lengthier the previous reassurance, the more likely the clinician is to stay in the current state.

CONCLUSIONS

HMMs prove to be a valuable tool and provide important insights for practitioners.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Trial Registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02599506. Prospectively registered on 11th March 2015.

Overdiagnosis in primary care: framing the problem and finding solutions

Overdiagnosis, is defined as the diagnosis of a condition that, if unrecognized, would not cause symptoms or harm a patient during his or her lifetime, and it is increasingly acknowledged as a consequence of screening for cancer and other conditions. Because preventive care is a crucial component of primary care, which is delivered to the broad population, overdiagnosis in primary care is an important problem from a public health perspective and has far reaching implications. The scope of overdiagnosis as a result of services delivered in primary care is unclear, though overdiagnosis of indolent breast, prostate, thyroid, and lung cancers is well described and overdiagnosis of chronic kidney disease, depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is also recognized. However, overdiagnosis is a known consequence of all screening and can be assumed to occur in many more clinical contexts. Overdiagnosis can harm patients by leading to overtreatment (with associated potential toxicities), diagnosis related anxiety or depression, and labeling, or through financial burden. Many entrenched factors facilitate overdiagnosis, including the growing use of advanced diagnostic technology, financial incentives, a medical culture that encourages greater use of tests and treatments, limitations in the evidence that obscure the understanding of diagnostic utility, use of non-beneficial screening tests, and the broadening of disease definitions. Efforts to reduce overdiagnosis are hindered by physicians' and patients' lack of awareness of the problem and by confusion about terminology, with overdiagnosis often conflated with related concepts. Clarity of terminology would facilitate physicians' understanding of the problem and the growth in evidence regarding its prevalence and downstream consequences in primary care. It is hoped that international coordination regarding diagnostic standards for disease definitions will also help minimize overdiagnosis in the future.