Patient and Caregiver Experience With the Hope and Prognostic Uncertainty of Immunotherapy: A Qualitative Study
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Patients and caregivers often have optimistic expectations for immunotherapy, leading to disappointment when treatments are not curative. Clearer communication about prognosis and psychosocial support are crucial for managing uncertainty in cancer care.
Area Of Science
- Oncology
- Cancer Care
- Patient Experience
Background
- Immunotherapy has improved survival for melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- Varied patient responses to immunotherapy create challenges in communicating prognosis.
- Understanding patient and caregiver experiences with immunotherapy is essential.
Purpose Of The Study
- To explore how patients and caregivers learn about immunotherapy goals.
- To investigate patient and caregiver experiences of living with uncertainty during immunotherapy.
Main Methods
- Qualitative study involving patients with advanced melanoma or NSCLC and their caregivers.
- In-depth interviews to understand learning about immunotherapy and experiences of uncertainty.
- Framework approach used for thematic analysis of interview transcripts.
Main Results
- Optimistic expectations of immunotherapy, including curative hopes, were shaped by oncology teams.
- Prognostic uncertainty caused distress, especially for patients with toxicity or disease progression.
- Disappointment was significant for patients without long-term responses; information preferences varied between patients and caregivers.
Conclusions
- Patient and caregiver optimism regarding immunotherapy can lead to significant disappointment.
- Clinicians must address potentially disparate patient and caregiver preferences for prognostic information.
- Optimizing prognostic communication and support for living with uncertainty is vital for immunotherapy patients.
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