Open communication between patients and relatives about illness & death in advanced cancer-results of the eQuiPe Study.

Autor: Haaksman M; Department of Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, University of Leiden, Leiden, the Netherlands. n.raijmakers@iknl.nl.; Department of Research & Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL), PO box 19079, 3501, DB, Utrecht, the Netherlands. n.raijmakers@iknl.nl., Ham L; Department of Research & Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL), PO box 19079, 3501, DB, Utrecht, the Netherlands.; Netherlands Association for Palliative Care (PZNL), Utrecht, the Netherlands., Brom L; Department of Research & Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL), PO box 19079, 3501, DB, Utrecht, the Netherlands., Baars A; Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Gelderse Vallei, Ede, the Netherlands., van Basten JP; Department of Urology, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands., van den Borne BEEM; Department of Pulmonology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, the Netherlands., Hendriks MP; Department of Medical Oncology, Northwest Clinics, Alkmaar, The Netherlands., de Jong WK; Department of Pulmonology, Hospital Gelderse Vallei, Ede, the Netherlands., van Laarhoven HWM; Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., van Lindert ASR; Department of Pulmonology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands., Mandigers CMPW; Department of Medical Oncology, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands., van der Padt-Pruijsten A; Department of Internal Medicine, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands., Smilde TJ; Department of Medical Oncology, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands., van Zuylen LC; Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Cancer Center Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., van Vliet LM; Department of Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, University of Leiden, Leiden, the Netherlands., Raijmakers NJH; Department of Research & Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL), PO box 19079, 3501, DB, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer [Support Care Cancer] 2024 Mar 06; Vol. 32 (4), pp. 214. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Mar 06.
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08379-5
Abstrakt: Objective: To assess the degree of openness of communication about illness and death between patients with advanced cancer and their relatives during the last three months of the patient's life, and its association with relatives' characteristics and bereavement distress.
Methods: We used data from bereaved relatives of patients with advanced cancer from the prospective, longitudinal, multicenter, observational eQuipe study. Univariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to assess the association between the degree of openness of communication (measured using the validated Caregivers' Communication with patients about Illness and Death scale), the a priori defined characteristics of the relatives, and the degree of bereavement distress (measured using the Impact of Event Scale).
Results: A total of 160 bereaved relatives were included in the analysis. The average degree of open communication about illness and death between patients with advanced cancer and their relatives was 3.86 on a scale of 1 to 5 (SE=0.08). A higher degree of open communication was associated with a lower degree of bereavement distress (p=0.003). No associations were found between the degree of open communication and the relatives' age (p=0.745), gender (p=0.196), level of education (p>0.773), (religious) worldview (p=0.435), type of relationship with the patient (p>0.548), or level of emotional functioning before the patient's death (p=0.075).
Conclusions: Open communication about illness and death between patients and relatives seems to be important, as it is associated with a lower degree of bereavement distress. Healthcare professionals can play an important role in encouraging the dialogue. However, it is important to keep in mind that some people not feel comfortable talking about illness and death.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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