Use of a Decision Aid to Help Caregivers Discuss Terminal Disease Status With a Family Member With Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Authors
- Yun, Young Ho; Lee, Myung Kyung; Park, Sohee; Lee, Jung Lim; Park, Jeanno; Choi, Youn Seon; Lim, Yeun Keun; Kim, Sam Yong; Jeong, Hyun Sik; Kang, Jung Hun; Oh, Ho-Suk; Park, Ji Chan; Kim, Si-Young; Song, Hong Suk; Ro, Jungsil; Lee, Keun Seok; Heo, Dae Seog; Hong, Young Seon
- Issue Date
- Dec-2011
- Publisher
- American Society of Clinical Oncology
- Citation
- Journal of Clinical Oncology, v.29, no.36, pp 4811 - 4819
- Pages
- 9
- Indexed
- SCI
SCIE
SCOPUS
- Journal Title
- Journal of Clinical Oncology
- Volume
- 29
- Number
- 36
- Start Page
- 4811
- End Page
- 4819
- URI
- https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2020.sw.kumedicine/12886
- DOI
- 10.1200/JCO.2011.35.3870
- ISSN
- 0732-183X
1527-7755
- Abstract
- Purpose
We tested whether a decision aid explaining how to discuss the approach of death with a family member with cancer would help family caregivers decide to discuss a terminal prognosis.
Patients and Methods
We randomly assigned caregivers of terminally ill patients with cancer to a group that received a video and a companion workbook that showed either how they can discuss the prognosis with their patient (experimental arm) or how cancer pain can be controlled (control arm). At baseline and 1 month, we evaluated the decision to discuss terminal prognosis as the primary outcome. At 0, 1, 3, and 6 months, we assessed the caregivers' decisional conflict and satisfaction as secondary outcomes using a Decision Conflict Scale (DCS).
Results
We found no difference in changes in the decision to discuss terminal prognosis between the two groups. Conflict (P = .003), uncertainty (P = .019), and value clarity (P = .007) subscale scores and total DCS score (P = .008) improved from baseline to 1 month significantly more in the experimental arm than in the control arm. Over 6 months, the significant between-group differences continued for the conflict (P = .031), uncertainty (P = .014), and value clarity (P = .039) subscale scores and total DCS score (P = .040).
Conclusion
Decision aids can help caregivers, with the aid of trained professionals, to communicate with patients about their terminal illness.
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- Appears in
Collections - 2. Clinical Science > Department of Family Medicine > 1. Journal Articles
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