We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Informational needs of brain metastases patients and their caregivers.
- Authors
Papadakos, Janet; Agarwal, Arnav; Charow, Rebecca; Quartey, Naa Kwarley; D'souza, Anna; Giuliani, Meredith; Millar, Barbara-Ann; Massey, Christine; Shultz, David; Chung, Caroline
- Abstract
Background In response to a dearth of formal health information targeted towards patients with brain metastases and their caregivers, a formal informational and supportive care needs assessment was conducted. Methods Brain metastases patients and caregivers who attended a clinic focused on the treatment of brain metastases at a tertiary medical center completed a self-report survey to assess informational needs across 6 domains: medical, physical, practical, social, emotional, and spiritual informational needs. Univariate and multivariate analyses of associations between variables was conducted using linear regression models. Results A total of 109 patients and 77 caregivers participated. Patients and caregivers both prioritized medical and physical informational domains, with a large focus on symptoms and side-effect profiles, significance of brain metastases locations and their implications, available treatment options and their risks and benefits, prognoses and follow-ups if treatment is completed, and end-of-life experiences and supports. One-on-one counseling was preferred by both caregivers and patients for these domains, as well as for practical informational needs; while patients preferred pamphlets to address social, emotional and spiritual informational needs, caregivers preferred one-on-one counseling for the former two domains as well. Conclusions Brain metastases patients and their caregivers prioritize medical and physical informational needs, with one-on-one counseling and pamphlets being the most preferred modalities for information provision. Further exploration regarding existing non-validated resources and the development of tailored resources to address the unique needs of these patient and caregiver populations are warranted.
- Subjects
BRAIN metastasis; METASTASIS; MEDICAL centers; UNIVARIATE analysis; MULTIVARIATE analysis
- Publication
Neuro-Oncology Practice, 2019, Vol 6, Issue 1, p47
- ISSN
2054-2577
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/nop/npy008