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Medical Condition Is Related to Treatment Preference in Cancer Patients: Implications for Quality Assessment

Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Kasson, Minnesota rohrer.james{at}mayo.edu

Seah H. Lim, MD

Division of Hematology and Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo; Biotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant Program, Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, Amarillo, Texas

Frank Andrew Bock, DO

Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Kasson, Minnesota

Ongoing communication with cancer patients about their treatment preferences is important. A survey assessing treatment preferences was distributed to 100 cancer patients who were newly diagnosed, 100 in remission after therapy, and 60 who had failed therapy/ relapsed; 100 cancer caregivers, and 100 noncancer patients attending the cancer center for benign hematologic problems. Almost 59% of respondents preferred treatment even if the chance of cure was less than 10%. Among subjects who did not have cancer, less than 50% wanted treatment under these circumstances, whereas over 70% of cancer patients who had failed treatment or relapsed wanted treatment (P = .0994). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the adjusted odds of preferring aggressive treatment were less for those without cancer and those with newly diagnosed cancer than for respondents who had failed treatment or were in relapse. The preference for aggressive cancer treatment is related to medical condition.

Key Words: treatment preferences • cancer • quality assessment

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