Journal Thoracic Oncology

Abstracts Journal of Thoracic Oncology • Volume 12 Issue S1 January 2017
Conclusion: Initially our concern was that a shorter length of stay may
increase the incidence of readmission. However our findings showed that a
longer length of stay (and current smoking status) was associated with an
increased risk of readmission. This audit therefore suggests that enhanced
recovery at Papworth Hospital is a safe and effective practice.
Recommendations
Review patient education / encourage patient self-referral for advice.
Improve discharge planning / communication with the community.
Establish a smoking cessation clinic / telephone service.
Implement a thoracoscore to accurately identify and target the highest risk
patients.
Repeat audit over a longer period.
Keywords: audit, nursing, Readmissions, Thoracic-Surgery
POSTER SESSION 2 – P2.08: PATIENT SUPPORT AND AD-
VOCACY GROUPS
Patient’s Voice, Patient’s Information –
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
P2.08-001 GIVING A VOICE TO PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS
THROUGH THE LUNG CANCER CANADA ‘FACES OF LUNG CANCER’
SURVEY
Mark Doherty 1 , Christina Sit 2 , Natasha Leighl 3 , Paul Wheatley-Price 4
1 Dept of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre,
Toronto/ON/Canada, 2 Lung Cancer Canada, Toronto/ON/Canada, 3 Dept of Medical
Oncology and Haematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto/Canada,
4 Medicine, University of Ottawa / Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa/
Canada
Background: Lung cancer (LC) is a major cause of cancer death, morbidity and
loss of function. Caregivers of LC patients provide emotional, physical, and
financial support, but their contribution is under-reported. The Lung Cancer
Canada (LCC) Faces of Lung Cancer Survey aimed to study the impact of LC
diagnosis and treatment on patients and caregivers. Methods: This 15-minute
online survey for patients and caregivers was conducted in August 2015.
Participants were recruited from a database of patients and caregivers, who
previously consented to survey participation; targeted emails, social media
postings and other patient groups were also utilized. The questionnaire
covered demographics, emotional issues and stigma, symptom burden,
quality of life, treatment experiences, and unmet needs. Anonymously
collected results were collated by LCC. Results: Overall, 91 patients and 72
caregivers completed 163 interviews. Of surveyed patients, 57% had no
active cancer. Fatigue, depression, and respiratory complaints were the
most challenging symptoms for patients. Fear/uncertainty was reported as
the hardest thing about LC by 40% of patients and 17% of caregivers. Most
caregivers were partners (54%) or parents (38%). 60% were the primary
caregiver, and 79% were former caregivers: 68% of their care receivers had
died. Most caregivers coped well (79%), but stressors included care-receiver’s
declining health, their own emotions, and balancing responsibilities.
Caregivers reported more negative feelings than patients: anxious/stressed
61%v42%, depressed/hopeless 32%v11%, cared for 13%v38%, confident/
encouraged 11%v25%. Caregivers felt less support than patients from their
healthcare team (75%v92%) and family/friends (65%v87%). Treatment
satisfaction was lower among caregivers: only 58% felt very/somewhat
satisfied (v 82% patients). 60% of patients and 68% of caregivers reported
a negative stigma attached to LC. 35% of respondents felt there was less
empathy toward LC than other cancers, and 38% of caregivers felt they had to
advocate harder for LC than other cancers. Notably, some caregivers (8%) and
patients (5%) reported a lack of compassion from medical professionals after
a LC diagnosis. 37% of patients and 50% of caregivers reported a negative
household financial impact from LC diagnosis. Conclusion: This report on
the experiences of lung cancer patients and their caregivers highlights
their reactions to the illness, and the associated prejudice and stigma. Lung
Cancer Canada is working to improve patient access to supportive services,
to decrease caregiver burden through support initiatives such as peer-topeer
support programs, to educate patients and caregivers on LC and their
treatment options, and to advocate for LC patients in the face of established
stigma.
Keywords: Caregivers, advocacy, lung cancer, stigma
POSTER SESSION 2 – P2.08: PATIENT SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY GROUPS
PATIENT’S VOICE, PATIENT’S INFORMATION –
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
P2.08-002 ONLINE PATIENT EDUCATION IN ADVANCED LUNG
CANCER: EFFECT ON PATIENT/CAREGIVER KNOWLEDGE
Tara Herrmann, Elaine Hamarstrom, Christine Carey
Medscape Education, Fort Sam Houston/United States of America
Background: Recent studies have found that patients with lung cancer
consistently report suboptimal communication with their physicians which,
in turn, can limit shared decision making and impair clinical outcomes. To
address this gap, a patient/caregiver-focused educational initiative was
developed to determine if online education modules could improve knowledge
about treatment decisions and side effect management in advanced
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: The initiative consisted of 4
educational activities available on WebMD Education, a website dedicated
to patient/caregiver learning. Each activity included demographic questions
and a pre-/post-activity question to measure impact on knowledge. The
activities launched online in between August and October, 2015, and data
were collected through April, 2016. Results: After 9 months, a total of 8933
persons had participated in the education. Of those, 43% had lung cancer
or were caregivers of a person with the disease, and 65% were female. The
average age of individuals who participated in any 1 of the 4 activities varied
based on topic. Significant post-participation improvements in knowledge
were observed including: ·8% increase in comprehending that treatmentrelated
side effects should be reported to their cancer care team both while
on therapy and after completion of treatment with a cancer immunotherapy
·16% increase in understanding the mechanism of action associated with
use of cancer immunotherapies in the treatment of lung cancer (p < 0.001)
·26% increase in recognizing first response with cancer immunotherapies will
take longer than chemotherapy (p < 0.001) ·28% increase in understanding
that molecular testing is necessary in individuals with advanced NSCLC,
adenocarcinoma, in order to select the most appropriate treatment
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that well-designed online patient/
caregiver-focused education can be successful in improving familiarity
with essential elements involved in the management of advanced lung
cancer. Targeted and focused digital education empowers, engages and
equips patient/caregiver with information needed for self-care condition
management.
Keywords: Patient Education, advanced NSCLC, molecular testing,
Immunotherapy
POSTER SESSION 2 – P2.08: PATIENT SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY GROUPS
PATIENT’S VOICE, PATIENT’S INFORMATION –
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
P2.08-003 QUALITY OF LIFE AND PATIENT REPORTED OUTCOME
MEASURES FOR LUNG CANCER PATIENTS; TREATMENT
OUTCOMES, AND PATIENT MANAGEMENT
Winfield Boerckel 1 , Carolyn Aldige 2 , Dusty Donaldson 3 , Hildy Grossman 4 , Vicki
Kennedy 5 , Cindy Langhorne 6 , Susan Mantel 7 , Susan Rappaport 8 , Maureen
Rigney 9 , Brian Tomlinson 10
1 Cancercare, Syosset/NY/United States of America, 2 Prevent Cancer Foundation,
Alexandria/VA/United States of America, 3 Dusty Joy Foundation “livelung”, High
Point/NC/United States of America, 4 Upstage Lung Cancer, Brookline/MA/United
States of America, 5 Cancer Support Community, Washington/DC/United States
of America, 6 Caring Ambassadors Lung Cancer Program, Lakewood/WA/United
States of America, 7 Lungevity Foundation, Hoboken/NJ/United States of America,
8 American Lung Association, New York/NY/United States of America, 9 Lung Cancer
Alliance, Washington/DC/United States of America, 10 Cancercare, New York/NY/
United States of America
Background: Patients with lung cancer rank maintaining their independence
and being able to care for themselves as being of greater importance than
the symptoms of their disease. Quality of life (QOL) and patient reported
outcomes (PRO) provide measures of patients’ physical, functional, and
psychosocial wellbeing. Methods: In October 2015, advocacy organization
executives met to review and evaluate the importance of QOL and PROs
within the context of clinical trials and their usefulness during the care of
patients with lung cancer by community oncologists. The discussion included
the impact of QOL, cancer-related weight changes, diet, and exercise on
patients’ overall health and advocating the importance of QOL and PRO
assessments in patients with lung cancer through social media. Results:
QOL and PRO measures are associated with treatment outcomes and may be
useful in patient management to evaluate individual treatments and survival.
Malnourishment, common in patients with lung cancer, reduces survival.
Reduced appetite contributes to cancer cachexia and sarcopenia. Sarcopenia
can lead to frailty, decreasing patients’ independence and tolerance and
responsiveness to treatment. Early intervention to improve diet and prevent
Copyright © 2016 by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
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