Susan Catt

• University of Sussex

Purpose To compare participants’ knowledge about gene expression profiling (GEP) tests and recurrence risks after reading an information leaflet with that following viewing of an information film. Methods Using a randomised cross-over design, at time-point one (T1), women aged 45–75 years without breast cancer either read leaflets or watched infor...

A qualitative study interviewing oncologists and people living with cancer about their experience of using remote communication(telephone and video call) during the COVID pandemic. The work showed broad acceptance of the technology by both people with cancer and clinicians but highlighted areas for improvement

PurposeAs demand for genetic testing grows and a wide range of health care professionals (HCPs) are potentially involved in discussions about testing and delivering results, we developed an educational package to help HCPs with these conversations.Methods To inform the content of training materials, we conducted interviews with 11 women four of who...

Purpose Gene expression profiling (GEP) test scores calculate risks of recurrence and likely benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in ER-positive, HER2-negative, early-stage breast cancer. As health literacy and numeracy skills in the general population are poor, healthcare professionals (HCPs) require a wide repertoire of communication skills to explai...

Purpose: Trials of novel drugs used in advanced disease often show only progression-free survival or modest overall survival benefits. Hypothetical studies suggest that stabilisation of metastatic disease and/or symptom burden are worth treatment-related side effects. We examined this premise contemporaneously using qualitative and quantitative me...

Aims: Delaying progression, ameliorating symptoms and maintaining quality of life (QoL) are primary aims of treatment for metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Real-world rather than clinical trial data about symptoms and side-effects are sparse. In EXTREQOL, patients' QoL, pain and information needs were recorded during treatment...

Purpose: Exercise levels often decline following cancer diagnosis despite growing evidence of its benefits. Treatment side effects, older age, lack of confidence and opportunity to exercise with others in similar circumstances influence this. Our study explored the experiences of people attending a cancer-specific community-based exercise programm...

Objective: The primary aim was to determine what, if any, relationships exist between communication and quality of life in patients receiving orthognathic treatment since this has not been explored. A secondary aim was to compare the Quality of Life (QoL) of a pre-treatment sample with those at 2 years post-surgery. Design: A cross-sectional questi...

PurposePatients with advanced disease are living longer and commonly used patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) may miss relevant elements of the quality of extended survival. This systematic review examines the measures used to capture aspects of the quality of survival including impact on patients’ everyday lives such as finances, work and fa...

223Background: Patients value quality of life (QoL) not just quantity of life but QoL data from measures in advanced disease are sparse for drugs with only progression-free survival (PFS) or modest overall survival (OS) benefits. We examined if stabilisation of metastatic disease and/or disease symptom burden were worth treatment side effects in th...

PurposeThe use of novel and often expensive drugs offering limited survival benefit in advanced disease is controversial. Treatment recommendations are influenced by patient characteristics and trial data showing overall response rates (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). PFS is frequently the primary outcome in licenci...

187 Background: Controversy exists about progression free survival (PFS) as an endpoint in novel cancer therapy trials. PFS is attractive for practical and methodological reasons but is not always a surrogate for overall survival. It is debatable whether or not PFS has discernable clinical benefit for patients (pts), the main treatment (tmt) goal....

Background: Most patients presenting with advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) eventually relapse. Symptom palliation, maintenance of quality of life (QoL) and prolongation of life are primary therapeutic goals.

Background: Most patients presenting with advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) eventually relapse. Symptom palliation, maintenance of quality of life (QoL) and prolongation of life are primary therapeutic goals. Methods: Sixty-six UK oncologists completed an online survey about AOC management. Two hundred and two patients were interviewed about care, tre...

Unlabelled: Ongoing supportive follow-up for patients with malignant glioma lacks good evidence to define and guide practice, and certain approaches have previously been criticized. In the UK, it commonly involves routine hospital visits with imaging to monitor treatment effects and detect disease progression. Aims: Through use of an observation...

In adults, primary malignant brain tumors (PMBT) are rare, but they have a devastating impact and the chances for survival are limited. UK clinical guidance on supportive care for patients with brain and central nervous system tumors was published in 2006 and relied on very limited evidence. The current article reviews literature from 2005 through...

Meeting the complex needs of patients with high-grade glioma requires multidisciplinary input. How best to provide care after initial treatment ends is contentious. This study explored the experiences of patients and staff at one UK centre where regular multidisciplinary clinics and brain scanning is provided. In-depth interviews conducted with 10...

Communication with patients contemplating Phase 1 cancer trial participation can be challenging. Controversy exists as to whether they are provided with sufficient information to give genuinely informed consent. We present data examining the reasons patients gave for trial entry. Following discussions with oncologists about Phase 1 trials, particip...

High-grade glioma profoundly affects patients and their families. The best ongoing care for patients completing radical treatment is uncertain. To address this issue a UK-wide audit surveying the follow-up practices of multidisciplinary cancer teams was conducted. An online survey package was used with a paper version available. Of 102 clinicians a...

PURPOSE; Evaluation of the communication and informed consent process in phase I clinical trial interviews to provide authentic, practice-based content for inclusion in a communication skills training intervention for health care professionals. Seventeen oncologists and 52 patients from five United Kingdom cancer centers consented to recording of p...

The diagnosis and management of high-grade glioma has profound effects on patients and their families. Guidance issued by the UK National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence in 2006 highlighted the lack of good studies of palliative care for patients with this disease. We describe new studies published from 2000 to 2007. High-grade glioma i...

Cancer care can be complex, and given the wide range and numbers of health-care professionals involved, an enormous potential for poor coordination and miscommunication exists. Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) should improve coordination, communication, and decision making between health-care team members and patients, and hopefully produce more posi...

As part of a multi-centred UK study evaluating multidisciplinary team communication, the information needs, decision making preferences and information experiences of 394 cancer patients were audited. A majority of patients (342/394, 87%) wanted all possible information, both good and bad news. Assuming that all clinicians had equal skill, the majo...

Understanding the self-prescribing behaviours of patients as well as their attitudes towards prescribed medication regimens is essential if healthcare professionals are to support treatment adherence and avoid unwanted pharmacological interactions and compromises in treatment efficacy. Evidence shows that women with breast cancer are particularly l...

Endocrine therapies for advanced breast cancer include tablets and intramuscular injections. When treatments have similar efficacy and tolerability profiles, addressing preferences about routes of administration is important. Two hundred and eight women>2 years post-breast cancer diagnosis were interviewed about their preferences for daily tablets...

We report here the different roles undertaken by the members of 10 multidisciplinary cancer teams in conveying information to patients during their care. Team members completed an Informational Roles Questionnaire measuring an individual's perception of their major role and that of their colleagues in giving information to patients. They also compl...

Objectives: To develop an end-of-life attitudes questionnaire for use in a large communitybased sample of older people. Design: Nominal groups and standardization of questions. Participants: Eighteen older people, ten academics and five specialist palliative care health professionals were involved in nominal groups. Thirty older people took part in...

Background: Cancer patients who receive care from specialist palliative care services in the UK are younger than those who do not receive this care. This may be explained by agerelated differences in attitudes to end-of-life care. Objective: To determine the relationship between age and i) attitudes to death and preparation for death; and ii) knowl...

In this pilot study, the acceptability of approaching 111 newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients with the offer of genetic testing for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) was assessed. A total of 78% of participants found it highly acceptable to have the information about HNPCC brought to their attention at that time.