Patients' perception of palliative treatment objectives.

43 Background: Palliative chemotherapy and radiation are often used in patients with advanced stage of cancer. To weigh the risks and the benefits of this treatment, patients need to be adequately informed about all treatment aspects including the side effects and potential benefits. Unfortunately, many patients are not well informed about the goal of their treatment, and many are under the impression that this treatment can be curative.

METHODS: This is a prospective survey based study that enrolled 46 patients with stage IV disease of all solid malignancies, who are being treated with palliative intent at the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center. Patients were given a questionnaire designed to test their level of knowledge of their current treatment goals, and to evaluate the efforts of health care team to educate patients.

RESULTS: 35% of patients had lung cancer, 34% had GI cancer, 14% had breast cancer and 13% had GU cancers. 37% of patients were under the impression that they are receiving curative treatment, 28% were not sure about the goals of the treatment, while only 35% of patients understood that the treatment was not curative. 91% of patients received written educational material. 93% of patients chose personal communication with the physician as their preferred method of getting educated about their disease.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data shows that most of the patients at our local cancer center who are actively receiving treatment with palliative intent are satisfied with amount of time spent with physician and have received written educational material. Despite these efforts, a majority of patients are still not clear on the treatment goal. Most patients chose personal discussion as the preferred method of education. Hence, physicians on staff were informed about the results and further emphasis on treatment goal during counseling is being undertaken. [Table: see text].