Perception and Utilization of Cannabinoids in Patients Undergoing Radiation Treatment: Our Patients Are Curious.

PURPOSE: Limited studies have described the utilization of cannabinoids among patients with cancer. This survey study aimed to characterize utilization patterns and perceptions of cannabinoid use for treatment-related side effects among patients receiving radiation treatment. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was an anonymous survey study of patients who were undergoing or recently completed radiation treatment at a comprehensive cancer center. Data on cannabinoid use during cancer treatment, reasons for the use of cannabinoids, perceived effects of cannabinoids, and formulations of usage were collected and summarized using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Of the 431 respondents, 111 (25.8%) patients reported cannabinoid use since their cancer diagnosis. Among the cannabinoid users, a majority (73.9%) experienced improvement in symptoms; 38.7% had better relief of cancer-treatment symptoms from cannabinoids in comparison to their prescription medications, and 16.2% lowered the amount of prescription pain medications needed after using cannabinoids. Cannabinoids appeared to be most effective in helping patients manage sleep (76.6%) and anxiety (72.1%). When asked about whether physicians should be discussing cannabinoid use, 45.1% of cannabinoid users wanted to speak with their doctors regarding its utilization. For patients who did not report cannabinoid use, a large majority (83.1%) never had discussions with their doctors regarding its utilization as part of their cancer care, and 34.8% wanted to learn more about cannabinoids from their doctors. CONCLUSIONS: About 1 in 4 patients with cancer reported cannabinoid use to assist in symptom control. A majority had subjective alleviation of treatment-related symptoms from cannabinoid use. Regardless of cannabinoid use, a sizable percentage of patients never had any discussions about cannabinoids with their oncologists, with some expressing interest in learning more. Guidelines are needed to assist radiation oncologists on how cannabinoids may play a role in caring for patients.

Anxiety, Depression, and Coping Strategies during Chemotherapy Treatment: A Comparison of Older and Younger Adults with Advanced Cancer in Brazil.

We sought to examine differences in anxiety, depression and coping strategies among younger (<64-year old) and older (≥65-year old) patients. Patients were assessed at baseline (T1), mid-point (T2) and on the last day of treatment (T3) using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Ways of Coping. A linear mixed modeling approach was used. The study included 200 patients (gender: 70% women; diagnosis: 30% breast, 22% hematological, 18% gastrointestinal; disease stage: 60% advanced). Older patients who used an emotion-focused coping strategy had a greater decrease in anxiety at T3 compared to those that used problem-focused coping (p = .002).

Differences of biopsychosocial distress and requests for psychological assistance between Asian American and non-Hispanic White oncology patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare Asian American (AA) to non-Hispanic White (NHW) cancer patients regarding biopsychosocial distress and requests for psychological assistance. METHODS: This retrospective study included 5627 eligible patients, newly diagnosed with cancer, who completed the 30-item SupportScreen® survey of biopsychosocial distress. The top 10 sources of high distress were assessed. Distress domains (Emotional, Physical/Functional, and Practical) were examined by race/ethnicity. Requests for psychological assistance were also explored by ethnic groups. RESULTS: Overall, the top 10 sources of high distress were similar between groups and approximately half consisted of concerns regarding physical symptoms. All patients preferred "talking" as their method of receiving assistance for these items. Ratings of emotional, practical, and physical/functional distress were similar between AA and NHW patients. However, AAs (vs. NHWs) requested more assistance regarding physical/functional and practical distress. No difference was observed between these two groups regarding requests for emotional support. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our study suggests that healthcare providers should be aware of the physical and practical needs of AA cancer patients and provide culturally sensitive care that addresses these needs.

Emotional Distress and Financial Toxicity in Younger Adult Patients Undergoing Oncologic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: There has been an alarming increase in the number of young adults (YA) diagnosed with cancer. The emotional, psychosocial, and financial distress experienced by newly diagnosed YA undergoing cancer surgery remains largely unknown. METHODS: A validated biopsychosocial distress screening tool (SupportScreen) was administered to patients diagnosed with cancer before surgery between 2009 and 2017 in a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center. Patients were stratified into YA less than or equal to 45 years and older adults (OA) above 45 years. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze distress outcomes. RESULTS: In total, 4297 patients were identified, with YA comprising 13.3% (n=573) of the cohort. YA reported higher emotional distress, including increased anxiety (33.8% vs 27.4%, P =0.002), greater fear of procedures (26.7% vs 22%, P =0.018), and difficulty managing emotions (26% vs 20.7%, P =0.006). YA struggled more frequently to manage work/school (29.5% vs 19.3%, P <0.001), finding resources (17.8% vs 11.8%, P <0.001), changes in physical appearance (22.2% vs 13.4%, P <0.001), fatigue (36% vs 27.3%, P <0.001), and ability to have children (18.4% vs 3%, P <0.001). Financial toxicity was significantly higher in the YA group (40.5% vs 28%, P <0.001). While income level was strongly protective against emotional distress and financial toxicity in OAs, it was less protective against the risk of financial toxicity in YA. Younger age was an independent predictor of financial toxicity in a model adjusted to income (odds ratio=1.52, P =0.020). CONCLUSIONS: YA in the prime of their personal and professional years of productivity require special attention when undergoing surgical evaluation for cancer. Resource allocation and counseling interventions should be integrated as part of their routine care to expedite their return to optimal physical and holistic health and mitigate psychosocial distress and financial toxicity.

Association between requests for supportive care assistance and patients' characteristics, prior to treatment in a comprehensive cancer center.

PURPOSE: Patients with cancer experience a wide array of distress symptoms (emotional, practical, physical, and functional), which often hinders their quality of life and survival. Unfortunately, only a small proportion of these patients request assistance for these problems. This study explored the relationship between requests for supportive care assistance and distress of patients newly diagnosed with cancer. METHODS: This study was conducted at city of hope, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, and included 2658 patients treated between 2009 and 2017. Patients were asked to complete a 30-item biopsychosocial problem-related distress survey via SupportScreen® , prior to any treatment. Correlations between requests for assistance and distress domains were evaluated. Primary types of requests were examined for all patients, and general linear modeling was used to determine the significant predictors of requests for assistance. p-values <0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Strong correlations were observed between distress subscales and requests for assistance (r ranging from 0.67 to 0.69). The primary types of requests varied by domain: items such as feeling anxious or fearful, finances, and sleep ranked first within the emotional, practical, and physical-functional domains respectively (∼20% requests for each item). Verbal assistance was generally preferred to the written form of assistance, with the exception of a few items, including finances. Overall, household income of <$100,000 and completing the survey in Spanish were significant predictors of requests for assistance. Regarding the practical and physical-functional domains, having an advanced stage of disease was significantly related to an increase in demands for assistance. Being older was associated to a decrease in requests for assistance vis-à-vis both the emotional and physical functional subscales. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that distress levels were strongly correlated with requests for assistance. Patients' clinical and demographic characteristics such as age, household income, disease stage and survey language were associated with inquiries for psychosocial support, highlighting the importance of targeting interventions towards those most likely to need them, to better aim patients' needs. Therefore, tailoring supportive care assistance to patients' characteristics could help boost the frequency of requests, reduce distress burden, and improve health outcomes.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Distress Levels in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer: The Impact of Race, Ethnicity, and Language Preference.

PURPOSE: Our objective was to assess distress levels in female breast cancer patients as a function of race, ethnicity, and preferred language. We hypothesized minority patients and non-English screen-takers would report higher distress levels compared to English screen-takers and non-Hispanic whites. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of female breast cancer patients at an NCI designated cancer center from 2009 to 2016 who were administered a validated biopsychosocial distress screening questionnaire. Self-reported data on race and ethnicity was collected. RESULTS: A total of 3,156 patients were included in the analysis; mean age of 56.3 (SD 12.25) years. The racial/ethnic cohort distribution included 54% non-Hispanic white (NHW), 19% Hispanic, 16% Asian, 7% Black/African American, and 4% other. On multivariable analysis only Hispanic patients were significantly more likely to report overall distress compared to NHW (OR [1.39; CI [1.03-1.87; p=0.03). Asians were significantly less likely to report distress in the functional domain (OR 0.71, CI [0.58-0.88]; p=0.002), while Black patients were significantly more likely to report highest distress levels in the physical (OR 1.53, CI [1.11-2.12]; p=0.01) domain. Hispanic Spanish screen-takers reported significantly more distress compared to Hispanic English screen-takers across all four domains of distress (p<0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Top sources of distress in female breast cancer patients vary as a function of race, ethnicity, and preferred language. Future studies should focus on identifying effective, culturally appropriate targeted interventions to mitigate emotional distress levels in ethnic and racial minorities as well as non-English speaking patients with breast cancer.

Using Goal Achievement as an Outcome Measure Following a Gero-Oncology Educational Program for Oncology Nurses: The GrOW Curriculum.

PURPOSE: This article describes the qualitative analysis of goal achievement by oncology nurses who attended a gero-oncology course. PARTICIPANTS & SETTING: Four annual programs were completed and included 140 teams of oncology nurses from cancer settings across the United States. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: Self-determination theory and achievement goal theory provided the conceptual framework for understanding what motivates people to achieve goals and how goals can measure outcomes. SMART goals were used to measure outcomes and barriers. FINDINGS: Goal achievement at 18 months showed that 70% of developed goals were in process or completed. The top three goal categories were professional education, structure/team building, and resource development. Top barriers included time constraints and staffing shortages. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Encouraging oncology nurses to set specific goals while attending an educational program supports successful integration of new knowledge in their practice setting.

The impact of gender, age, race/ethnicity, and stage on quality of life in a spectrum of cutaneous lymphomas.

PURPOSE: Cutaneous lymphomas (CLs) are a group of rare, potentially disfiguring and disabling cancers that can have a significant impact on quality of life (QoL). While previous studies have shown that mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) impair QoL, the effect of other types of CL on QoL has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of disease on QoL in all CL patients and to assess how QoL between the CL sub-types varies by demographic and clinical factors. METHODS: The Cutaneous Lymphoma Distress Questionnaire (CL-DQ) was used to assess QoL. All CL patients seen in a multidisciplinary CL clinic were screened for eligibility. Questionnaire responses were collected over a 22-month period between 2017 and 2019. A cross-sectional analysis of CL-DQ scores from an initial visit was performed to determine the effect of disease on QoL across CL sub-types and the potential impact of patient demographics, CL sub-type, and type of treatment. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 151 patients presenting with distinct types of cutaneous B- and T-cell lymphomas. Notable across the study population were the findings of frustration (44%), worry about progress/spread (43%), itching/pruritus (32%), and embarrassment/shame (28%). QoL was found to be most negatively affected in SS patients, females, younger patients, Black patients, and those with advanced stages of MF/SS. CONCLUSIONS: Impairment of QoL due to CL correlates with gender, age, race/ethnicity, and stage of MF/SS. While the negative impact on QoL is most pronounced in SS patients, other CL sub-types also affect QoL and impact psychosocial distress. Our findings highlight the need for QoL assessment in all CL patients and further examination of disparities noted across demographic groups.

Emotional problem-related distress screening and its prevalence by cancer type: Assessment by patients' characteristics and level of assistance requested.

OBJECTIVE: Emotional problem-related distress is a common issue faced by patients with cancer. However, patients suffering with this emotional burden do not typically seek assistance. This study sought to determine the prevalence of emotional problem-related distress by cancer type, and identify factors correlated with the level of assistance requested. METHODS: Using the SupportScreen®, patients were screened for emotional problem-related distress at their first or second visit to an NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. General Linear Model was used to test the association between emotional problem-related distress and type of cancer, and the relationship between level of assistance requested and patients' characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 2,421 patients were included in this analysis. Patients were mostly female (62%), diagnosed with breast (24%), gynecological (16%) or gastrointestinal (15%) cancers. Highest levels of emotional problem-related distress were reported by patients diagnosed with lung, gynecological, breast and gastrointestinal cancers. Level of assistance requested were significantly associated with problem-related distress scores (p < 0.001), which were higher among patients with lower household incomes (p < 0.001) and Spanish as primary language (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study found an association between Level of assistance requested and emotional problem-related distress, which were heightened by lower income and Spanish-speaking. Intervention strategies should be considered to increase access to psychosocial support services.

Radiation oncologist perceptions of therapeutic cannabis use among cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer patients are increasingly incorporating medical marijuana into the management of treatment-related side effects. Currently however, data is limited regarding the risks and benefits of therapeutic cannabis for cancer patients. We sought to characterize radiation oncologists' practices and opinions regarding therapeutic cannabis via a nationwide survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous survey was distributed via email to 873 radiation oncologists in the American Society for Radiation Oncology member database. Radiation oncologists were asked their opinions and practices regarding the use of therapeutic cannabis for their patients. Bivariate analyses of potential predictors for responses were conducted using standard statistical techniques. RESULTS: One hundred seven radiation oncologists completed the survey. According to the survey, 36% of respondents would recommend therapeutic cannabis to their patients to mitigate treatment toxicity. Physicians practicing in states where medical marijuana is legal were more likely to recommend it compared to physicians working in states that have not legalized medical marijuana (OR = 3.79, 1.19-12.1, p = 0.01). Seventy-one percent of respondents reported therapeutic cannabis as being effective at least some of the time for managing treatment-related toxicities. Fifty-eight percent of physicians reported lacking sufficient knowledge to advise patients regarding therapeutic cannabis, while 86% of respondents were interested in learning more about therapeutic cannabis for cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although a majority of radiation oncologists believe there are benefits to therapeutic cannabis, many are hesitant to recommend for or against its use. Radiation oncologists appear to be interested in learning more about how therapeutic cannabis may play a role in their patients' care.

Geriatric Oncology Workshop (GrOW): Development and Evaluation of a Nationwide Nursing Curriculum.

INTRODUCTION: Oncology nurses are key in caring for older adults with cancer, but few have received specialized training in gerontology. To address this, a geriatric oncology curriculum was developed for oncology nurses. MATERIALS & METHODS: The Geriatric Oncology Workshop (GrOW) was developed and delivered to oncology nurses (n = 387) from 2016 to 2019. Workshops were evaluated using: 1) Assessment of preparedness, comfort, and skills; 2) Knowledge gained; 3) Participant evaluations of workshop (4-point Likert-type scale); 4) Faculty evaluations (10-point Likert-type scale); and 5) Follow-up assessment of goals. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, proportions, medians, means) were used to describe participants and results. Paired t-test was used to evaluate participants' knowledge gain, and linear mixed modeling was used to evaluate longitudinal changes in preparedness, comfort, and skill levels. RESULTS: Overall, 387 oncology nurses participated in GrOW. Participant-rated workshop evaluation means were 3.7 to 3.9. Overall, nurses had statistically significant increases in pre- to post- questionnaire scores of 18.8% (p < 0.001) in workshop 1, 26.8% (p < 0.001) in workshop 2, 24.9% (p < 0.001) in workshop 3, and 18.6% (p < 0.001) in workshop 4, with an overall mean of 22.4% (p < 0.001) knowledge gained for all four workshops. Nurses reported an increase in skill, comfort, and preparedness at 18 months for workshop 1, 2, and 3 and in skill and comfort at 12 months for workshop 4 (p < 0.01). Faculty evaluation scores ranged from 9.3 to 10.0. DISCUSSION: A geriatric oncology curriculum designed for oncology nurses can improve levels of evidence-based knowledge and provide more skill, comfort, and preparedness in caring for this population.

Discrepancies between genitourinary cancer patients' and clinicians' characterization of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcomes have been used to assess treatment effectiveness and actively engage patients in their disease management. This study was designed to describe the patient-reported performance status (PS) and the provider-reported PS. METHODS: Patients with metastatic genitourinary cancers were recruited from a single cancer center before the initiation of a new line of treatment. PS (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG]), quality of life (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-General), and distress (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Anxiety and Depression) were self-reported by patients. Clinical data (eg, age, sex, diagnosis, and physician-reported ECOG PS) were extracted from medical records. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the association between PS, quality of life, and psychological symptoms. RESULTS: One hundred forty-five patients were enrolled (76.6% male, 70.3% White, 81.4% married, and 76.6% well educated). The median age was 67 years; 66.9% were diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, 20.0% were diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma, and 13.1% were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Clinicians more frequently classified patients' ECOG PS as 0 in comparison with the patients themselves (92.4% vs 64.1%; P = .001). Higher clinician-reported ECOG PS was associated with poorer physical and functional well-being and higher rates of depression (P < .01), whereas higher patient-reported ECOG PS was associated with worse psychosocial outcomes (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Discrepancies were noted between the patient- and provider-reported ECOG PS, with clinicians overestimating the ECOG PS in comparison with the patients themselves. This study's findings suggest that patients incorporate their social and emotional well-being into their PS score in addition to their physical well-being. This information is not immediately accessible to most clinicians from just a standard patient interview and likely accounts for the overestimation of the patients' ECOG PS by the clinicians.

Association between hospital anxiety and depression scale and problem-related distress in patients with cancer in a Brazilian private institution.

OBJECTIVE: Emotional symptoms are frequently reported among patients with cancer. We evaluated the association between emotional symptoms and problem-related distress in a sample of patients with cancer about to initiate chemotherapy within a private hospital in Brazil. METHODS: Patients were assessed before initiating chemotherapy, treatment mid-point, and on the last day of treatment for anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]) and for problem-related distress (Distress Thermometer Problem List). Problem-related distress variable was computed as the sum of practical, physical, spiritual and familial problems. Mixed-model analysis was applied to determine the association between HADS and problem-related distress, adjusting for age and gender. RESULTS: A total of 655 consecutive patients were enrolled. There was a significant main effect of time (F = 8.99, p = 0.0001), showing that emotional symptoms improve over time. A significant main effect was observed for problem-related distress (F = 371.56, p < 0.0001) revealing that patients with elevated problem-related distress at baseline tend to have higher HADS across the three time points, compared to patients with lower problem-related distress. There was an interaction effect between problem-related distress and time (F = 85.22, p < 0.0001), suggesting that HADS scores decreased differently over time, depending on patients' initial level of problem-related distress. CONCLUSION: Overall, emotional symptoms, while decreasing over time, remained associated with problem-related distress after chemotherapy in Brazil. The potential benefit of implementing a psychosocial intervention remains high throughout cancer treatment.

Surgeon and patient perceptions of cure in advanced gastrointestinal malignancies: Are we on the same page?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Effective communication is essential to complex shared decision making and is associated with improved recovery and pain control. However, patients and surgeons often have disparate expectations of treatment efficacy and perceptions of cure for advanced malignancies. This study measures correlation of patient and surgeon expectations with perceptions of cure. METHODS: Our prospective study surveying surgeon-patient dyads before and after surgical consultation was performed for advanced abdominal malignancy between July and November 2017 at a single NCI designated cancer center using electronic questionnaires. RESULTS: Patients and surgeons' own opinions regarding surgical candidacy (Q1), chance at cure (Q2), and life expectancy (Q3) did not measurably change from pre- to postvisit survey as evidenced by unchanged response concordance (patients Q1 P = .82; Q2 P = .81; and Q3 P = .53; surgeon responses Q1: P = .17; Q2: P = .32; and Q3: P = .50). Patient and surgeon perception of likelihood of cure and of estimated life expectancy remained discordant in pre- and postvisit surveys (Q2: P = .006 and Q3: P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: These data highlight the stark differences between patient and surgeon perceptions of cure and prognosis of gastrointestinal cancers. These results prove that a larger scale study using this electronic questionnaire is feasible and important to better understand these differences and enhance shared decision making.

The impact of financial toxicity in gastrointestinal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Biopsychosocial distress screening is a critical component of comprehensive cancer care. Financial issues are a common source of distress in this patient population. This study uses a biopsychosocial distress screening tool to determine the factors associated with financial toxicity and the impact of these stressors on gastrointestinal cancer patients. METHODS: A 48-question, proprietary distress screening tool was administered to patients with gastrointestinal malignancies from 2009 to 2015. This validated, electronically-administered tool is given to all new patients. Responses were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (not a problem) to 5 (very severe problem), with responses rated at ≥3 indicative of distress. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Most of the 1,027 patients had colorectal (50%) or hepatobiliary (31%) malignancies. Additionally, 34% of all patients expressed a high level of financial toxicity. Age greater than 65 (odds ratio: 0.63, 95% confidence interval: 0.47-0.86, P < .01), college education (odds ratio: 0.53, 95% confidence interval: 0.38-0.73, P < .0001), being partnered (odds ratio: 0.61, 95% confidence interval: 0.44-0.84, P < .01), and annual income greater than $40,000 (odds ratio: 0.27, 95% confidence interval: 0.19-0.38, P < .0001) were all protective against financial toxicity on univariate analysis. Also, heavy tobacco use was associated significantly with increased distress on univariate analysis (odds ratio: 2.79, 95% confidence interval: 1.38-5.78, P < .01). With the exception of partnered status (odds ratio: 1.18, 95% confidence interval: 0.76-1.85, P = .46), all these variables retained their significant association with financial toxicity in the multivariate model. CONCLUSION: Financial toxicity impacts a large number of cancer patients. Further study of at-risk populations may identify patients who would benefit from pre-emptive education and counseling interventions as part of their routine cancer care.

Couples coping with cancer together: Successful implementation of a caregiver program as standard of care.

OBJECTIVE: The couples coping with cancer together program (CCCT) is used to illustrate practical strategies to implement, evaluate, and grow a successful couples-based program in an NCI-designated CCC. CCCT is multimodal program utilizing psychoeducational, strategic, strengths-based, and problem-solving theoretical frameworks. CCCT integrates multiple intervention modalities, as the standard of care: patients/partners biopsychosocial screening, a standardized psychoeducational session, group intervention, and short-term couples counseling. METHODS: Implementation strategies included: (a) identifying Values-Benefits-Outcomes for key stakeholders, (b) recruiting an interdisciplinary team, (c) utilizing a concurrent development model (implementing program components in small iterations), (d) integrating program into existing institutional processes, and (e) collecting data and credibility. RESULTS: CCCT prospectively screened 1995 patients/partners simultaneously for biopsychosocial distress and 913 patient/partner completed program evaluations. Program satisfaction was extremely high: "I recommend this program, for other patients/partners (Patients 95.4% Partners 96.4%)." Ten of the 11 participating physicians anonymously surveyed responded and indicated 100% likely/very likely "to recommend the program to other physicians." CONCLUSIONS: Couples-based programs are underutilized and have been shown to be important for adjustment and increased longevity. Despite barriers in the healthcare environment, implementing couples-based programs into standard of care are feasible. These strategies may be applicable to develop supportive care programs in various health-care settings.