TABLE I.
Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of 378 patients by discordance status
| Variable | Oncologist–patient discordance | p Value | Effect size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||
| Yes | No | |||
| Patients (n) | 90 | 285 | ||
|
| ||||
| Mean age (years) | 64.3±10.4 | 63.2±11.2 | 0.38 | 0.10 |
|
| ||||
| Mean ESAS score | 26.5±19.5 | 23.9±17.8 | 0.26 | 0.14 |
|
| ||||
| Mean evaluation of Tx effectiveness | 71.7±24.9 | 74.3±22.0 | 0.37 | 0.11 |
|
| ||||
| Mean goals of care | 42.7±41.8 | 52.0±22.8 | 0.05 | 0.28 |
|
| ||||
| Mean religious faith scorea | 14.9±4.8 | 15.3±4.0 | 0.46 | 0.09 |
|
| ||||
| Sex [n (%) women] | 51 (56.7) | 140 (49.1) | 0.21 | 0.06 |
|
| ||||
| Ethnicity [n (%) white] | 61 (67.8) | 218 (76.5) | 0.10 | 0.09 |
|
| ||||
| Married [n (%) yes] | 44 (48.9) | 188 (66.0) | 0.004 | 0.15 |
|
| ||||
| ECOG PSb [n (%)] | ||||
| 0 | 25 (27.8) | 70 (24.6) | 0.73 | 0.06 |
| 1 | 51 (56.7) | 179 (63.0) | ||
| 2 | 11 (12.2) | 27 (9.5) | ||
| 3 | 3 (3.3) | 8 (2.8) | ||
|
| ||||
| Cancer type [n (%)] | ||||
| Gastrointestinal | 43 (47.8) | 132 (46.3) | 0.97 | 0.01 |
| Lung | 31 (34.4) | 100 (35.1) | ||
| Pancreatic | 16 (17.8) | 53 (18.6) | ||
|
| ||||
| Annual household incomec [n (%)] | ||||
| ≤$20,000 | 28 (34.1) | 49 (19.4) | 0.02 | 0.16 |
| $21,000–$49,999 | 19 (23.2) | 83 (32.8) | ||
| ≥$50,000 | 35 (42.7) | 121 (47.8) | ||
|
| ||||
| Living willb [n (%) yes] | 55 (61.1) | 185 (65.1) | 0.49 | 0.04 |
|
| ||||
| During study period … [n (%) yes] | ||||
| Received palliative care | 32 (35.6) | 117 (41.1) | 0.35 | 0.05 |
| Died | 46 (51.1) | 158 (55.4) | 0.47 | 0.04 |
a
On the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Brief Questionnaire.
b
Percentages in the “No discordance” group are based on 284 patients for whom these data were available.
c
Percentages based on 82 (yes group) and 253 (no group) responses.
ESAS = Edmonton Symptom Assessment System; Tx = treatment; ECOG PS = Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status.