TY - JOUR

T1 - Age-related Differences in Recall of Information and Handling of Chemotherapy-related Side Effects in Cancer Patients

T2 - The ReCap Study

AU - Lund, Cecilia Margareta

AU - Mikkelsen, M. K.

AU - Theile, S.

AU - Michelsen, H. M.

AU - Schultz, M.

AU - Sengelov, L.

AU - Nielsen, D. L.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Background To prevent severe toxicity and hospital admissions, adequate management and recall of information about side effects are crucial and health literacy plays an important role. If age-related factors impact recall of given information and handling of side effects, revised ways to give information are required. Patients and Methods We undertook a questionnaire-based survey among 188 newly diagnosed patients with pancreatic cancer or colorectal cancer and chemo-naive patients with prostate cancer treated with adjuvant or first-line palliative chemotherapy comprising satisfaction with given information, recall of potential side effects, and handling of hypothetical side effect scenarios. We evaluated the association between baseline characteristics, ie, age, frailty (G8 score), comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index), cognitive function (Mini-Cog), satisfaction, recall of information, and handling of side effects. Results Reduced ability to recall information about several side effects (eg, chest pain) was associated with older age (odds ratio adjusted for cancer [aOR] 0.94 [95% CI, 0.88-0.98]) and poor cognitive screening (aOR 0.56 [95% CI, 0.33-0.91]). Insufficient or dangerous handling of side effects was associated with older age (aOR 0.96 (95% CI, 0.92-0.99)) and cognitive impairment (aOR 0.70 [95% CI, 0.50-0.95]). Conclusion Older age and poor cognitive screening may impact patients' ability to understand and adequately handle chemotherapy-related side effects. Cognitive screening and focus on individual ways to give information including assessment of recall and handling are needed.

AB - Background To prevent severe toxicity and hospital admissions, adequate management and recall of information about side effects are crucial and health literacy plays an important role. If age-related factors impact recall of given information and handling of side effects, revised ways to give information are required. Patients and Methods We undertook a questionnaire-based survey among 188 newly diagnosed patients with pancreatic cancer or colorectal cancer and chemo-naive patients with prostate cancer treated with adjuvant or first-line palliative chemotherapy comprising satisfaction with given information, recall of potential side effects, and handling of hypothetical side effect scenarios. We evaluated the association between baseline characteristics, ie, age, frailty (G8 score), comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index), cognitive function (Mini-Cog), satisfaction, recall of information, and handling of side effects. Results Reduced ability to recall information about several side effects (eg, chest pain) was associated with older age (odds ratio adjusted for cancer [aOR] 0.94 [95% CI, 0.88-0.98]) and poor cognitive screening (aOR 0.56 [95% CI, 0.33-0.91]). Insufficient or dangerous handling of side effects was associated with older age (aOR 0.96 (95% CI, 0.92-0.99)) and cognitive impairment (aOR 0.70 [95% CI, 0.50-0.95]). Conclusion Older age and poor cognitive screening may impact patients' ability to understand and adequately handle chemotherapy-related side effects. Cognitive screening and focus on individual ways to give information including assessment of recall and handling are needed.

KW - age

KW - chemotherapy

KW - side effects

KW - information

KW - recall

KW - OLDER-ADULTS

KW - GERIATRIC ASSESSMENT

KW - COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

KW - TOXICITY

KW - COMMUNICATION

KW - SURVIVORSHIP

KW - STATISTICS

KW - EXPERIENCE

KW - SURVIVAL

KW - TOOLS

U2 - 10.1093/oncolo/oyab034

DO - 10.1093/oncolo/oyab034

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 35641212

VL - 27

SP - E185-E193

JO - Oncologist

JF - Oncologist

SN - 1083-7159

IS - 2

ER -