Multidimensional problems among advanced cancer patients in Cuba: awareness of diagnosis is associated with better patient status

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Ivan Justo RollRichard Harding

Abstract

Cancer is one of the major causes of death in Cuba, and in current practice, patients are not usually informed of their diagnosis. Palliative care is an emerging discipline in this country. Cuban cancer patients with advanced disease completed the Palliative Outcome Scale (POS), and the researcher elicited patients' knowledge of their condition and prognosis. The POS consists of 12 items that address the clinical, psychosocial, spiritual, family, and service delivery elements considered relevant to patients with advanced disease. Ten items are scored 0 (no problem) to 4 (worst problem), with one open-response question about the main problems experienced and one question about whether the questionnaire was completed with help or alone. Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare POS item scores by patient awareness. Of the 91 patients who participated in the study, 41% knew they had cancer and 9% were believed to be aware that they were dying. The most burdensome problems recorded on the POS were wasted time on appointments (70% of patients scored 3 or 4), pain (42%), patient anxiety (39%), and family anxiety (37%). Those patients who were aware of their diagnosis had statistically significantly better scores with respect to symptom...Continue Reading

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Citations

Mar 13, 2009·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·Alexander K SmithEliseo J Pérez-Stable
May 27, 2011·Journal of Palliative Medicine·Marie-José H E GijsbertsLuc Deliens
Apr 20, 2012·International Journal of Clinical Practice·K MattarozziUNKNOWN G.E.Ro.N.I.Mu.S
Aug 12, 2014·The Lancet Global Health·Richard Harding, Irene J Higginson
May 30, 2015·Health and Quality of Life Outcomes·Serena Iacono IsidoroGiuseppe Insalaco
Apr 27, 2016·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·Marieke H J van den Beuken-van EverdingenDaisy J A Janssen
Aug 18, 2016·Revista latino-americana de enfermagem·Fernanda Capella Rugno, Marysia Mara Rodrigues do Prado De Carlo
Oct 26, 2013·Journal of Health Psychology·Allison J ApplebaumWilliam Breitbart
Nov 27, 2019·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Bin JieZheng-Zhi Feng
Apr 15, 2020·Psycho-oncology·Karolina VlckovaMartin Loucka
Dec 2, 2020·BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care·Sanhapan WattanapisitKatherine Hunt
Aug 3, 2020·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·Rebecca M SaracinoWilliam Breitbart
Sep 6, 2020·BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care·Sara Mone, Helen Kerr
Nov 7, 2020·Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice·Rosario Costas-MuñizFrancesca Gany

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