‘What Matters to Me’: An International Online Survey of People Treating, Affected by and Living with Lung Cancer

Abstract

Aim: Lung cancer is a common malignancy that occurs worldwide and generally has a poor prognosis. Its diagnosis presents significant physical and emotional challenges for patients and their family, friends and caregivers (FFCs). This study aimed to gain insights into patients’ and FFCs’ perspectives regarding lung cancer and its treatment, as well as physicians’ perceptions of patients’ thoughts about their illness. Patients & methods: An international online survey was conducted, assessing 113 patients diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer, 70 corresponding FFCs and 188 treating physicians. Data were collected using an interactive internet-based tool, in order to establish respondents’ priorities. Results: Interesting differences between patients’, FFCs’ and physicians’ perspectives on lung cancer were revealed. For all respondents, the primary feeling about lung cancer was described as “sadness”. Patients were more likely to express a determination to be positive, whereas fear was a common response for FFCs and was a perspective also reported by physicians. Physicians’ views on how they had communicated disease information were more positive than those of the patients, with many patients detecting physician hesitancy to communicate negative news. Conclusion: This study provides important insights into the self-reported thoughts and feelings of patients with lung cancer, their personal networks of FFCs and the physicians who care for them.

Keywords:

• lung cancer
• personal perspective
• priorities

Disclosure

All authors contributed to the concept/design of the review or data interpretation/analysis and the drafting, critical review and approval of the manuscript. All authors had full access to all of the data. Data are available from the corresponding author at [email protected].

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was funded by AstraZeneca. M Guerin sits on an advisory board for Roche and L Darlison is a member of the Iressa Advisory Group. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. Alpharmaxim Healthcare Communications coordinated the writing process, funded by AstraZeneca.

Ethical conduct of research

As this was a market research survey, ethical approval was not required, but the survey methodology was consistent with the European Pharmaceutical Market Research Association (EphMRA) code of conduct, which provides comprehensive and up-to-date ethical and legal guidance for international primary healthcare market research. A financial incentive in line with EphMRA standard operating procedures was provided to all participants completing the study. All collected data were anonymized at the point of completion.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by AstraZeneca. M Guerin sits on an advisory board for Roche and L Darlison is a member of the Iressa Advisory Group. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. Alpharmaxim Healthcare Communications coordinated the writing process, funded by AstraZeneca.