Communication of healthcare professionals: Is there ageism?

Elderspeak is often used when talking to older individuals and is characterised by a slower and/or louder speech, a patronising tone, etc. A part of the reason of such communication can be found in the actual context of negative view of ageing. However, the link between view of ageing and elderspeak has never been objectively studied in oncology. Therefore, 40 healthcare professionals (physicians and medical students) record a podcast where they have to explain an endocrine therapy to two fictional patients (40- vs. 70-year old). Results show that when participants explained the treatment to the older patient, they used shorter utterances and made more repetitions. They also evoked fewer side effects such as sexual issues. Moreover, reduction in length of utterances and of word-per-minute rate was observed for older patient when participants have a positive view of ageing but for both patients when they have a negative view of ageing. In conclusion, physicians and medical students used elderspeak when they explained a treatment to older patients. Participants with a more negative view of ageing also unconsciously talked slower and made shorter utterances to a 40 -year-old patient.

Dementia-specific quality of life instruments: a conceptual analysis.

BACKGROUND: Over the past 20 years, many researchers have worked in developing various methods for measuring quality of life (QoL) of people with dementia. The aim of this review is to develop the conceptual frameworks of the dementia-specific QoL instruments, to identify their evolution over time and to provide elements of reflection on the QoL concept in dementia and its evaluation. METHODS: An electronic search was conducted on PsycINFO and MEDLINE databases, from January 1985 to June 2015 using a combination of key words that include QoL, dementia, and review. RESULTS: The analysis of the conceptual frameworks of the 18 selected dementia-specific QoL tools shows a great diversity in: (1) the QoL definitions (e.g. health-related QoL definitions, QoL definitions based on Lawton's work, or similar to this latter); (2) the theoretical QoL models (e.g. Lawton' work and modified Lawton, adaptation, personhood); (3) the domains and dimensions; (4) the way to construct the instrument (e.g. development based on literature, opinion of the experts), and (5) the items' formulation (e.g. use of criterion of intensity or frequency). CONCLUSIONS: There are different conceptual frameworks in the dementia-specific QoL measures with improvements over time (e.g. inclusion of interesting concepts such as adaptation, taking into account the views of patients themselves). Each of the conceptual parameters (definitions, models, domains, and dimensions) is discussed to identify the scales that are conceptually the strongest. Through their review, recommendations for future instrument refinement and development are discussed and a new QoL definition is proposed.

Ageism and caring attitudes among nurses in oncology.

BACKGROUND: Although the incidence of cancer increases with age, elderly patients are often excluded from clinical trials. In addition, elderly patients are frequently undertreated in comparison to younger patients. One explanation for these observations is age stigma (i.e. ageism). In this context, this study has two objectives: (1) to replicate the results of previous studies that reported differential support of medical treatment depending on the patient's age in a different healthcare provider population (nurses rather than physicians); and (2) to determine whether support for expensive immunotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, or breast reconstruction is linked to ageism among nurses. METHOD: The participants were 76 nurses who specialized in oncology. They received four clinical vignettes: one vignette about an immunotherapy with a high societal cost (age of patient: 40 vs. 70 years), and three vignettes about adjuvant chemotherapy and breast reconstruction (age of patient: 35, 55, or 75 years - age was the only difference). A questionnaire and a fluency task were used to assess the participants' vision of aging. RESULTS: Our analyses show that support for immunotherapy, breast reconstruction, and chemotherapy is lower for older patients than for younger patients. Moreover, nurses' vision of aging influences support for breast reconstruction: nurses with a negative view of age discriminated more between a 75-year-old patient and a 35-year-old patient (less encouragement for the older patient). CONCLUSION: These results highlight the need for nurses and other healthcare providers to receive specific training about ageism and its consequences.

[Ageism and its clinical consequences in oncogeriatry: a review of existing data and intervention leads]. / L'âgisme et ses conséquences cliniques en oncogériatrie: état des lieux et pistes d'interventions.

Aging is a risk factor in oncology. Indeed, it is estimated that, in 2030, 70% of diagnosed cancers in the United States will concern subjects older than 65 years. Paradoxically, elderly are often excluded from clinical trials and are undertreated compared to younger patients. An important explanatory factor (and yet still not considered!) for these observations is the age stigma (in other words our stereotypes linked to age, and so ageism), age being actually the main motive for discrimination. In this perspective, our aim is to present ageism manifestations in oncogeriatry and their direct consequences for patients, interlocutors (that is to say health professionals) and interactions between them. Throughout this article, we will enhance our remarks by data from researches in "normal" aging. Before ending, we will give some intervention leads potentially applicable in oncogeriatry, to reduce ageism deleterious effect.

[Quality of life in children with cancer history and parental adaptation]. / Qualité de vie de l'enfant avec antécédents oncologiques et adaptation parentale.

This study assesses quality of life (Qol) in children with cancer history as well as Qol of their parents and examines the relationship between parental adjustment and children Qol. Two groups were formed: an experimental group composed by children with cancer antecedents and their parents and a control group with healthy children and their parents. Children have filled a questionnaire about their Qol. Parents have completed questionnaires about their coping, their illness perceptions, their parenting stress and their Qol. The results show that Qol was satisfactory and similar in both groups. Significant correlations were found between parental illness representations (threat and personal control) and children Qol as well as between coping strategies based on maintaining family cohesion and children Qol. This study highlights the need to assess the adjustment of parents after child cancer and to develop interventions targeting parental representations and coping strategies.

Relationship between quality of life and cognitive decline in dementia.

AIMS: We aimed to examine the association of cognitive decline with quality of life (QoL) in dementia compared to controls and to determine variables associated with QoL. METHODS: Every subject was placed within a specific group depending on their designation by the Mini Mental State Examination and evaluated by the Alzheimer's Disease Related Quality of Life (ADRQL) and clinical assessments. RESULTS: QoL for the mild dementia group was lower (p = 0.08) than that of controls. The very severe dementia group had a significantly lower QoL than the other dementia groups, which all had similar ADRQL scores. The only predictor of ADRQL scores was found to be the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. CONCLUSION: There is no direct relationship between cognitive decline and QoL.