Health-related quality of life, fatigue, and depression under low-dose IFN-α therapy in melanoma patients.

Adjuvant melanoma treatment with interferon-α (IFN-α) has proven to be accompanied by several side effects and to decrease patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL), fatigue and depression being essential factors at that. Although a large body of evidence exists for HRQOL under IFN-α therapy, we now specifically address this topic combining the HRQOL survey in the first months of IFN-α low-dose treatment with a structured assessment of relevant neuropsychiatric side effects, fatigue and depression, with specific validated assessment tools. The present study is a longitudinal observational study assessing fatigue, depression, and HRQOL with specific assessment tools at 3 assessment points over 6 months. The IFN-α treatment group consisted of 48 patients with current IFN-α therapy (3 MU 3 times weekly) from a consecutively recruited melanoma collective and compared with a parallelized nontreatment group (n=48) in routine clinical practice. A descriptive analysis and generalized linear models were applied to compare the groups. Physical fatigue increased significantly within the first months of IFN-α treatment, whereas cognitive and emotional fatigue and depression symptoms did not show this increase. The hypothesis of a significant deterioration of HRQOL after IFN-α initiation was not confirmed. The treatment group did, however, show a different course of global HRQOL than the comparison group, with a significant improvement in the nontreatment group. Patients under low-dose IFN-α therapy primarily suffer from physical side effects, mainly physical fatigue, in the early phases of treatment. The HRQOL improvement evident in the nontreatment group was not observed in the IFN-α group.

Shared decision making in dermato-oncology: preference for involvement of melanoma patients.

Increasing importance is being conferred to the implementation of shared decision making (SDM) in clinical practice for medical, ethical, and sociological reasons. In Germany, SDM has recently been adopted as an explicit goal in the S3-melanoma treatment guideline. The aim of this study is to present data on how melanoma patients want to be involved in treatment decisions and second on the dynamic of these preferences for involvement. This was investigated in consecutively recruited melanoma patients (stages I-III) in two German Skin Cancer Centers as part of a longitudinal questionnaire study. The Control Preference Scale assessed patients' preferences at baseline (n=405) and was readministered 1 year later (n=314) to detect potential changes. In addition, the perceived realization of SDM in the adjuvant interferon-α treatment decision was investigated in a subgroup of patients (n=108) using the nine-item Shared Decision Making Questionnaire (SDM-Q-9). More than 80% of the patients want to play an active role (autonomous or collaborative) in treatment decisions and only 17% want to delegate their decision to the doctor. We found a significant preference shift within a year in 43% of the patients, predominantly toward more active involvement. The results of the SDM-Q-9 indicate a moderate degree of perceived participation, with differing perceived implementation of the individual the SDM process steps. With the majority of melanoma patients preferring an active role in treatment decisions and improvable implementation of the SDM process steps in clinical practice, our findings support the relevance of SDM in dermato-oncology.

Self-efficacy for coping with cancer in melanoma patients: its association with physical fatigue and depression.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of self-efficacy for coping with cancer (SECC) on physical fatigue and depressive symptoms in melanoma patients, in comparison with objective factors, such as treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-α) and medical and sociodemographic variables. Current literature shows that psychological distress in melanoma patients is generally moderate, that they experience high quality of life, and that symptoms of depression and fatigue have been mostly associated with adjuvant IFN-α treatment METHODS: A total of 175 melanoma patients, stages Ib-IIIc with and without low-dose IFN-α therapy, completed surveys on SECC, depression, and fatigue. Two hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to explore the predictive role of objective factors (first step: tumor stage, time since diagnosis, and current IFN-α treatment; second step: age and gender) in conjunction with the subjective factor of SECC (third step) on physical fatigue and depression. RESULTS: Regression analysis revealed no significant effect of IFN-α treatment upon depression. Current IFN-α treatment was predictive of higher fatigue scores, however. The highest predictive effect by far was obtained for SECC, indicating higher fatigue and depression in patients with lower SECC. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the treatment with IFN-α is mainly accompanied by physical fatigue in melanoma patients rather than by mood changes. Most notably, the potential influence of increased SECC on reducing both physical fatigue and depression is suggested by the data, indicating the importance of self-efficacy enhancing interventions in the psycho-oncological support of melanoma patients.

How does a German audience appraise an American decision aid on early stage breast cancer?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how a German audience appraises an American video-based decision aid on early stage breast cancer for potential use in Germany. METHODS: A German synchronized voice-over version was produced and subject to different focus groups with patients (n=9), health care providers (n=7) and German health care experts (n=15) using an individual questionnaire-based evaluation and a moderated group discussion. Research questions included a general appraisal of the decision aid and the exploration of adaptation needs for use in Germany. Descriptive statistics were calculated and the qualitative data were analyzed applying an inductive approach to categorize the statements. RESULTS: The general appraisal of the decision aid revealed positive results in all groups, especially with regard to comprehensible presentation of information and integration of patients' testimonials. However, cultural differences between the American decision aid and Germany were debated in all groups. CONCLUSION: Despite a high general interest and positive appraisal of the decision aid, the results of this study suggest that it cannot just be translated and used in another country. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The decision aid needs further cultural adaptation and testing in an implementation study before it can be transferred to Germany.