Abstract

Background: We used the Therapy Preference Scale, a 30-item questionnaire, to determine cancer treatment preferences of adults with cancer. Methods: We used Wilcoxon's rank sum test and Fisher's exact test to compare the preferences of younger (<60 years) versus older adults (≥60 years). Results: While 56% of patients would accept treatment offering increased life expectancy at an expense of short-term side effects, 75% preferred maintenance of cognition, functional ability and quality of life to quantity of days. Oral instead of intravenous treatment (p = 0.003), shorter hospital stay (p = 0.03), preservation of cognitive function (p = 0.01) and avoidance of pain (p = 0.02) were more important to older patients compared with younger patients. Conclusion: Many patients prioritized maintenance of cognition, functional ability and quality of life; older patients valued oral treatment, shorter hospital stay, preservation of cognitive function and avoidance of pain.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)311-321
Number of pages11
JournalFuture Oncology
Volume18
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2022

Keywords

  • cancer
  • cognition
  • life expectancy
  • patients
  • preferences
  • quality of life
  • questionnaire
  • therapy
  • treatment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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