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1.
Breast Care (Basel) ; 15(3): 236-245, 2020 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32774217

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer patients' self-understanding of their disease can impact their quality of life (QoL); the relationship between compliance and QoL is poorly understood. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Patient's Anastrozole Compliance to Therapy (PACT) program, a prospective, randomized study, investigated the effect of additional patient information material (IM) packages on compliance with adjuvant aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer. The QoL subanalysis presented here examined the impact of IM packages on QoL and the association between QoL and compliance. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaires were completed at baseline, 12 and 24 months, or study termination to assess health-related QoL and disease-related symptoms. RESULTS: Of the 4,844 patients randomized to standard therapy or standard therapy + IM packages (1:1), 4,253 were available for QoL analysis. No difference in QoL was observed between groups at baseline. IM packages did not have a statistically significant impact on patient QoL at the 12- or 24-month follow-up. Compliant patients experienced improvement in multiple items across the QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 scales at 12 months. However, those results should be interpreted carefully due to limitations in the statistical analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Provision of IM packages did not influence patients' QoL or satisfaction with care during AI therapy. Compliant patients appear to experience improved QoL compared to noncompliant patients, perhaps indicating a more self-empowered perception of their condition.

2.
Gesundheitswesen ; 82(7): e77-e93, 2020 Jul.
Article in German | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32698208

ABSTRACT

More than half of the German population has difficulties in dealing with health information. It is an important task of health services research to examine how healthcare professionals and health care organizations can meet this challenge. The DNVF Memorandum Health Literacy (Part 1) defines the terms of individual and organizational health literacy, presents the national and international state of research and ethical aspects of health literacy research in health care settings. The relevance of health literacy research is worked out in different phases of life, for different target groups and in different healthcare contexts. Central research topics and future research desiderata are derived.


Subject(s)
Health Literacy , Delivery of Health Care , Germany , Health Personnel , Health Services Research , Humans
3.
Gesundheitswesen ; 82(7): 639-645, 2020 Jul.
Article in German | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32698207

ABSTRACT

More than half of the German population has difficulties in dealing with health information. It is an important task of health services research to examine how healthcare professionals and health care organizations can meet this challenge. This short version of the DNVF Memorandum Health Literacy (Part 1) defines the terms of individual and organizational health literacy, presents the national and international state of research and ethical aspects of health literacy research in health care settings. Central research topics and future research desiderata are derived.


Subject(s)
Health Literacy , Germany , Health Personnel , Health Services Research , Humans
5.
Breast Cancer Res Treat ; 139(2): 429-40, 2013 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23670130

ABSTRACT

Treatment decisions in oncology are based on a balance between the efficacy of therapy and its side effects. Patients with metastases and patients with a limited prognosis are a particular challenge, since communication about the disease situation and the expected therapeutic benefit is difficult not only for patients, but also for physicians. The aim of this study was therefore to compare the benefits expected of therapy by patients and physicians. Questionnaires were sent to 9,000 breast cancer patients and to 6,938 physicians. The questionnaires described 10 cases of breast cancer in the metastatic setting. The patients and physicians were asked to state the treatment benefit they would require to decide for the therapy options chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, antibody therapy, radiotherapy, and bisphosphonates. Additionally, the participants provided data on patient and physician characteristics. Expected treatment benefits were compared between patients and physicians, and influencing factors that modified the expected benefit were identified. Patients expected much greater benefits from the therapies offered than the physicians. For all treatment modalities, about 50 % or more of patients expected more than a 12-month increase in overall survival from all therapies. Among the doctors, this proportion ranged from 7 to 30 %. Among patients, previous experience of side effects and having young children in the family were the strongest influencing factors. Among the doctors, age and level of education had a strong influence on the expected prognostic improvement to indicate a therapy option. As expectations of treatment differ greatly between patients and doctors, a structured approach to solving this conflict is required. There appear to be some indicators that might help address the problem, such as the physicians' level of training and experience and the patients' specific social circumstances.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Breast Neoplasms/psychology , Decision Making , Adult , Aged , Breast Neoplasms/therapy , Communication , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Acceptance of Health Care , Perception , Physicians , Risk Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Treatment Outcome , Truth Disclosure
6.
Breast Care (Basel) ; 8(2): 110-20, 2013 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24419247

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Patient's Anastrozole Compliance to Therapy (PACT) program is a large randomized study designed to assess whether the provision of educational materials (EM) could improve compliance with aromatase inhibitor therapy in postmenopausal women with early, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The PACT study presented a large, homogeneous dataset. The baseline analysis included patient demographics and initial treatments and patient perceptions about treatment and quality of life. RESULTS: Overall, 4,923 patients were enrolled at 109 German breast cancer centers/clinics in cooperation with 1,361 office-based gynecologists/oncologists. 4,844 women were randomized 1:1 to standard therapy (n = 2,402) or standard therapy plus EM (n = 2,442). Prior breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy had been received by 76% and 24% of the patients, respectively. Radiotherapy was scheduled for 85% of the patients, adjuvant chemotherapy for 38%. Reflecting the postmenopausal, hormone-sensitive nature of this population, only 285 patients (7%) had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: A comparison with epidemiological data from the West German Breast Center suggests that the patients in the PACT study are representative of a general postmenopausal early breast cancer population and that the findings may be applicable to 'real-world' Germany and beyond. Compliance data from PACT are eagerly anticipated.

7.
Breast Cancer Res Treat ; 135(3): 811-20, 2012 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22933029

ABSTRACT

Several factors can influence individual perceptions of the expected benefit of recommended adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. This study investigated differences between patients and physicians with regard to the required efficacy of treatment and the factors influencing patients' and physicians' willingness to accept different therapeutic options. A total of 9,000 questionnaires were distributed to patients with breast cancer, and 6,938 questionnaires were distributed to physicians treating breast cancer patients. The patients were asked for personal information and about their medical history and experiences during treatment. The physicians were asked about personal information and their specialty and work environment. The treatment efficacy required by the two groups was assessed using six virtual cases of breast cancer and the treatment regimens proposed, with specific benefits and side effects. A total of 2,155 patients and 527 physicians responded to the questionnaire (return rates of 23.9 and 7.6 %). Significantly different ratings between patients and physicians with regard to the expected benefit of certain treatment options were observed. The differences were noted not only for chemotherapy but also for antihormonal and antibody treatments. Whereas physicians had a quite realistic view of the expected treatment benefits, the patients' expectations were varied. Approximately one-fifth of the patients were willing to accept treatment regimens even with marginal anticipated benefits, whereas one-third required unrealistic treatment benefits. Several influencing factors that were significantly associated with the quality rating of treatment regimens in the groups of breast cancer patients and physicians were also identified. In contrast to physicians, many breast cancer patients required treatment benefits beyond what was realistically possible, although a large group of patients were also satisfied with minimal benefits. Individual factors were also identified in both groups that significantly influence thresholds for accepting adjuvant treatment, independently of risk estimates and therapy guidelines.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Breast Neoplasms/psychology , Decision Making , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Physicians , Treatment Outcome , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Breast Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Satisfaction , Surveys and Questionnaires
8.
J Cancer Res Clin Oncol ; 135(3): 339-54, 2009 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18661152

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The goal of the 2008 updated guideline: early detection of breast cancer in Germany is to support physicians as well as healthy and affected women in the decision-making process involved in the diagnostic chain for the early detection of breast cancer by providing them with evidence- and consensus-based recommendations. The updated guideline replaces the guideline issued in 2003. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The guideline forms the basis for developing an effective and efficient national early breast cancer detection program that meets the standards set by the Council of Europe and WHO for cancer control programs. The guideline presents the current, evidence- and consensus-based state of scientific knowledge in a multidisciplinary approach for the entire diagnostic chain, consisting of history taking and risk consultation, information on health behavior, clinical breast examination, diagnostic imaging, image-guided percutaneous tissue-acquisition techniques, open surgical excisional biopsy and pathomorphological tissue evaluation. The guideline recommends a set of quality indicators to assure resource availability, performance quality and outcomes enhancing total quality management for early breast cancer diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Currently, early detection of breast cancer offers the most promising possibility to optimize the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and, as a result, reduce breast cancer mortality and improve health related quality of life in women.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Early Detection of Cancer , Breast Neoplasms/prevention & control , Breast Self-Examination/methods , Evidence-Based Medicine , Female , Germany , Health Behavior , Health Promotion , Humans , Medical History Taking , Treatment Outcome
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