Preference of Japanese cancer patients for being informed about their prognosis

Abstract

Background: Prognostic information, which consists of life expectancy, functional prognosis, and uncertainty, of cancer patients is essential. However, the evidence regarding the prognostic preferences of cancer patients is limited. To clarify the prognostic preferences of cancer patients and whether cancer patients want to be informed about their prognosis. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional web-based anonymous survey through a private survey company in January 2022. We assessed whether patients would prefer to be informed about their life expectancy and functional prognosis, and explored correlations between patients’ backgrounds. Results: A total of 132 patients responded to the survey. The mean age was 63.1±9.3, and 67 (50.8%) were male. The most frequent primary tumor was gastrointestinal/hepatobiliary and pancreatic (n=43, 32.6%). Among the patients, 26.6% answered “Strongly agree” or “Agree” to wanting to be informed about their life expectancy, and 33.6–46.9%. wanted to be informed of their functional prognosis. Experience of a family member that had died from cancer had a significant correlation with the preference to be informed about “Life expectancy” (rs=0.344, P<0.001), “Moving freely” (rs=0.210, P=0.016), and “Proper communication” (rs=0.344, P=0.038). Conclusions: More cancer patients wanted to be informed about their functional prognosis than their life expectancy. In addition, the experience of a family member that had died of cancer had a significant correlation with the preference for wanting to be informed about their life expectancy and functional prognosis.