What do advanced cancer patients know about their prognosis and what (and how) would they like to know

• Grant number: 20/13203-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal researcher: Carlos Eduardo Paiva
• Grantee: Ana Clara Teixeira
• Home Institution: Hospital do Câncer de Barretos. Fundação Pio XII (FP). Barretos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

End-of-life scenarios for incurable cancer patients should be viewed from the perspective of ethics and humanization, aiming at the patient's well-being. In this context, good doctor-patient communication is extremely important, as it positively impacts the patient's treatment decisions, allowing adequate care for that person and their reality. However, there are divergences in communication, caused by the professional's posture and / or by factors related to the patient, raising in the latter an inaccurate perception about his real health status, treatment and prognosis, negatively influencing the management of symptoms and his treatment decisions. The objective of the study is to evaluate in patients with advanced and incurable cancer the understanding of incurability, treatment goals and communication preferences about prognosis. It is an observational longitudinal study. Data collection will occur at the Department of Clinical Oncology at the Barretos Cancer Hospital. A total of 124 adult individuals with primary malignant solid tumors in the breast, gynecological, urological or gastrointestinal, will be consulted by the doctor according to the identification of disease progression or relapse, and who present ECOG-PS (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group - Performance Status) 2 to 4. Doctors who consulted the study patients will also be included. Finally, doctors and patients will respond to questionnaires that aim to evaluate perceptions and opinions regarding the communication of bad news.