Self-reported experience and outcomes of care among stomach cancer patients at a median follow-up time of 27 months from diagnosis.

GOALS OF WORK

We aimed to identify clinical experiences associated with outcomes of care among stomach cancer patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four hundred thirty-two patients who had a diagnosis of stage I-III stomach cancer from 2001 through 2002 from two hospitals in South Korea responded to a survey questionnaire including sociodemographic and clinical data, information about care experiences, satisfaction with care, and quality of life (QOL).

MAIN RESULTS

Involvement in decision making [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.81; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13 to 2.89] and reflection of patients' opinions in treatment decisions (aOR = 2.54; 95% CI, 1.65 to 3.93) were associated with decision satisfaction. The factors associated with willingness to choose the same treatment over again were involvement in decision making (aOR = 2.37; 95% CI, 1.53 to 3.68) and no treatment toxicity (aOR = 0.50; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.87). Involvement in decision making, reflection of patients' opinions in treatment decisions, and treatment toxicity were associated with some functioning subscales of QOL (p < 0.05). Regular follow-up, however, was associated with poor social functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

Quality improvement efforts for stomach cancer patients should focus not only on the quality of primary tumor therapy but also on how patients experience their care, such as patient-centered decision making, experience of treatment toxicity, and regular follow-up.