Health Information Preferences and Curability Beliefs Among Patients With Advanced Cancer

Accurate prognostic understanding is associated with increased advance care planning, symptom control, and patient autonomy in oncology. The impact of prognostic understanding on patients' health information preferences (HIPs) and prognostic information preferences is unknown and has important implications for health care communication.

The present study characterized the HIPs of patients with advanced cancer; examined differences in HIPs between patients with varying curability beliefs; and identified differences in the characteristics and psychological well-being of patients with varying curability beliefs.

This cross-sectional study used a secondary data analysis of baseline data (prerandomization) for patients enrolled in a large randomized controlled psychotherapy trial. 206 participants were recruited from outpatient clinics at a single facility. Inclusion criteria included: 18 years and older; English speaking, Stage IV solid tumor cancer, and Distress Thermometer score of ≥4.

Most participants preferred as many details as possible about their diagnosis and treatment (69.4%; n = 143), and the likely outcome of their disease (72.3%; n = 149). Most participants accurately described their cancer as unlikely curable or incurable (62.6%; n = 129). There were no significant differences in HIPs based on level of prognostic understanding. Poorer prognostic understanding was associated with religiosity and better quality of life and existential well-being.

In the present study, prognostic understanding (i.e., curability beliefs) was not associated with HIPs. Therefore, oncology clinicians must individually and interatively evaluate patients' interest and preferences for receiving information. Future research should further clarify preferences for the framing and content of prognostic information from providers and improve the measurement of prognostic understanding to facilitate patient-centered end-of-life care.