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The influence of patient reported outcomes on the discussion of psychosocial issues in children with cancer
Author(s) -
Engelen Vivian,
van Zwieten Myra,
Koopman Hendrik,
Detmar Symone,
Caron Huib,
Brons Paul,
Egeler Maarten,
Kaspers GertJan,
Grootenhuis Martha
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.24089
Subject(s) - psychosocial , medicine , intervention (counseling) , cohort , quality of life (healthcare) , pediatric oncology , family medicine , blood cancer , cancer , pediatrics , clinical psychology , psychiatry , nursing
Background This study investigates the effect of using patient reported outcomes (PROs) about health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in clinical practice on the type and amount of psychosocial topics discussed during a paediatric oncology consultation. Procedure Children (N = 193) with cancer participated in a sequential cohort intervention study, with a control (no PRO was used) and intervention group (a PRO was used). For each child three consecutive consultations with the paediatric oncologist were audio recorded in order to assess the discussed psychosocial topics. One third of the audio recordings were qualitatively analysed. Results The type of the discussed psychosocial topics in the control and intervention group did not differ from each other. However, the discussion of psychosocial topics increased in the intervention group compared to the control group. In both groups, topics within the social domain occurred most frequently and topics regarding the emotional domain had the lowest incidence. Conclusions PROs do not change the psychosocial content of communication. Paediatric oncologists already address psychosocial issues during the consultation, regardless of the use of a PRO. However, with a PRO available they address these issues more systematically and more often. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 59: 161–166. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.