A survey of gynecologic oncologists regarding the end-of-life discussion: a pilot study
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Gynecologic oncology
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To identify the practices and attitudes of gynecologic oncologists regarding the end-of-life discussion. METHODS: A pilot survey was sent to 1105 members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO). The survey consisted of 20 questions and was sent via the website Survey Monkey. RESULTS: Response rate was 12.8%. Sixty percent of respondents were male, most ranged between 30 and 60 years of age and more than half performed 5-10 major surgeries per week. More than half of respondents (53.9%) deferred the End of Life discussion until the patient had sustained a major change in functional and/or medical status. Thirty percent initiated it at the first recurrence or progression of disease. Forty three percent of respondents characterized the discussion as an on-going process. Patients' age, social support, health insurance, and co-morbidities had no influence on the discussion, and neither did the tumor's site of origin or grade. More respondents initiated the discussion in advanced stage cancer (57%) and after salvage chemotherapy institution (54%). Forty four percent of respondents reported that "understanding and acceptance" was the initial response by patient when counseled about withdrawal of care. This increased to 86% when the issue was revisited. Confusion or reluctance to discuss the subject were initially reported to be 12% and 19%, respectively, but decreased to 2% and 3%, respectively, when withdrawal of care was subsequently addressed with the patient. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot survey sheds a light on attitudes and practices about the end-of-life discussion that deserve to be further studied.
First Page
471
Last Page
3
DOI
10.1016/j.ygyno.2011.09.029
Publication Date
3-1-2012
Recommended Citation
El-Sahwi, Karim S.; Illuzzi, Jessica; Varughese, Joyce; Carusillo, Nina; Ratner, Elena S.; Silasi, Dan-Arin; Azodi, Masoud; Schwartz, Peter E.; Rutherford, Thomas J.; and Santin, Alessandro D., "A survey of gynecologic oncologists regarding the end-of-life discussion: a pilot study" (2012). Obstetrics and Gynecology. 87.
https://scholar.bridgeporthospital.org/obgyn/87
Identifier
22014628 (pubmed); 10.1016/j.ygyno.2011.09.029 (doi); S0090-8258(11)00799-2 (pii)