A question prompt list for patients with advanced cancer in the final year of life: Development and cross-cultural evaluation

Adam Walczak, Benjamin Mazer, Phyllis N. Butow, Martin H.N. Tattersall, Josephine M. Clayton, Patricia M. Davidson, Jane Young, Susan Ladwig, Ronald M. Epstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Clinicians and patients find prognosis and end-of-life care discussions challenging. Misunderstanding one's prognosis can contribute to poor decision-making and end-of-life quality of life. A question prompt list (booklet of questions patients can ask clinicians) targeting these issues may help overcome communication barriers. None exists for end-of-life discussions outside the palliative care setting. Aim: To develop/pilot a question prompt list facilitating discussion/planning of end-of-life care for oncology patients with advanced cancer from Australia and the United States and to explore acceptability, perceived benefits/challenges of using the question prompt list, suggestions for improvements and the necessity of country-specific adaptations. Design: An expert panel developed a question prompt list targeting prognosis and end-of-life issues. Australian/US semi-structured interviews and one focus group elicited feedback about the question prompt list. Transcribed data were analysed using qualitative methods. Setting/participants: Thirty-four patients with advanced cancer (15 Australian/19 US) and 13 health professionals treating such patients (7 Australian/6 US) from two Australian and one US cancer centre participated. Results: Most endorsed the entire question prompt list, though a minority queried the utility/appropriateness of some questions. Analysis identified four global themes: (1) reinforcement of known benefits of question prompt lists, (2) appraisal of content and suggestions for further developments, (3) perceived benefits and challenges in using the question prompt list and (4) contrasts in Australian/US feedback. These contrasts necessitated distinct Australian/US final versions of the question prompt list. Conclusions: Participants endorsed the question prompt list as acceptable and useful. Feedback resulted in two distinct versions of the question prompt list, accommodating differences between Australian and US approaches to end-of-life discussions, highlighting the appropriateness of tailoring communication aides to individual populations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)779-788
Number of pages10
JournalPalliative Medicine
Volume27
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Question prompt list
  • advanced cancer
  • communication
  • cross-cultural comparison
  • qualitative research
  • terminal care

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A question prompt list for patients with advanced cancer in the final year of life: Development and cross-cultural evaluation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this