Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) treatments have specific Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) profiles. While HRQoL is central in the oncology patient experience, its integration into current practice remains poorly documented. The study objective was to describe patients' experience and expectations regarding HRQoL, in particular in their relationship with oncologists.
This research was a cross-sectional study within a French online patients’ community. Patients treated with ICI for cancer were recruited between Sep-18 and Jan-19. They answered to a questionnaire developed to assess health care practitioners (HCP) involvement in HRQoL, times of discussion and dimensions discussed. Importance of nine HRQoL dimensions were measured with a visual analog scale (VAS; 0–10 [low–high]).
Over 82 patients included (median age: 59 years; 56% male, 41% with lung cancer), two third (53) mentioned a HRQoL discussion at least once with an oncologist. Half of them (39) discussed of HRQoL with oncologists and were mostly satisfied of this interaction. When occurred, discussions were mainly occasional during follow-up visits (64%), adverse event occurrence (57%), treatment initiation (43%) and were mostly on patients’ initiative (64%). The most discussed HRQoL dimensions were symptoms (85%) and physical well-being (74%). In terms of expectations, two thirds of patients (54) considered oncologists were one of the most important HCP to discuss HRQoL with. Among them, 85% to 98% considered that HRQoL discussion was important at all times of care considered in the study from diagnosis to palliative care. The most important discussion for patients were symptoms (8.7 SD ± 2.0), physical well-being (8.6 ±1.8) daily activities (8.1 ±2.2), family and social life (8.0 ± 1.8), work and leisure (7.9 ±2.1), cognition (7.8 ±2.5) and emotional state (7.7 ±2.7).
According to patients, HRQoL consideration mostly relies on oncologists. Integration of HRQoL in clinical practice could be optimized by increasing frequency of dedicated interactions and by extending discussions to the less often addressed dimensions.
Carenity.
Bristol-Myers Squibb.
O. Wilczynski: Honoraria (institution): Bristol-Myers Squibb. A. Boisbouvier: Honoraria (institution), Full / Part-time employment: Bristol-Myers Squibb. L. Radoszycki: Honoraria (institution): Bristol-Myers Squibb. F-E. Cotté: Full / Part-time employment: Bristol-Myers Squibb. A-F. Gaudin: Full / Part-time employment: Bristol-Myers Squibb. H. Lemasson: Full / Part-time employment: Bristol-Myers Squibb.