Clark, Matthew M.

8583 Background: Patient QOL assessment requires balancing the detail provided by multi-item assessments with the reduced burden of single-item assessments. We investigated the psychometric properties of single-item LASA assessments used in 3 North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) phase II trials for patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas. Methods: Measures included QOL LASAs (overall, physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual), Symptom Distress Scale (SDS), Profile of Mood States (POMS), and Functional Assessment for Cancer Therapy (FACT; overall, physical, emotional). Association of LASA measures with SDS, POMS, and FACT domains and with ECOG performance score (PS) and MMSE was assessed with Spearman’s correlation. Repeated measures ANOVA models compared the change over time of LASAs and SDS, POMS, and FACT. Cox regression modeled the association of baseline QOL and survival. Results: 205 patients completed the QOL assessments across 3 time points. LASA mean scores ranged from 60–78; SDS, POMS, and FACT ranged from 68–81. No significant changes across time for overall and emotional scores were observed. FACT physical decreased over time (p<0.001) as did LASA physical (p=0.08). LASA scales were strongly associated with corresponding scales on SDS, POMS, and FACT (0.44<rho<0.65; p<0.001). LASA was negatively associated with PS and positively with MMSE. Baseline scores for overall FACT (p=0.005) and LASA physical (p=0.015) were associated with better survival. Conclusions: The single-item LASA assessments have comparable psychometric properties as longer assessments for the same constructs. Correlations with PS and MMSE were as expected (convergent/concurrent validity). The discriminant validity and prognostic ability of LASA items were similar to the multi-item instruments. Collectively, the data suggest that the single item LASA scales are valid for assessing QOL in patients with newly diagnosed high grade gliomas and are an appropriate alternative when a shorter instrument is warranted. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

8521 Background: The extent of patient involvement in the decision making process for cancer treatment can impact satisfaction with care. A pooled-analysis of clinical studies from the US and Canada incorporating the Control Preferences Scale (CPS) was conducted to produce normalized data regarding patient preferences and examine differences in role preference related to country, tumor type, gender and other demographics. Methods: Patient data culled from six trials indicated the treatment decision making role preferred and the role actually experienced clinically. Fisher’s Exact Tests were performed to compare role distribution concordance and association with clinical and demographic variables. Results: Data available for 3,491 patients indicated that 25% preferred an active role, 46% a collaborative role, and 29% a passive role in their medical treatment decision making. In terms of actual experience, 30% of patients reported taking on an active role, 34% collaborative, and 36% passive. Overall, 61% of patients reported playing the role they prefer. Differences between genders in the preferred role were slight, but males achieved their preferred role more often than females (66% vs. 60%, p=0.011). More women actually took a passive role than men (40% vs. 24%, p<0.0001) as did more patients in the US than Canada (84% vs. 54%, p<0.001). Canadian patients preferred more passive than active roles (33% vs 22.4%) and US patients preferred more active to passive roles (31.9% vs 14.2%) (p<0.001). Older patients preferred a more passive role and took on that role. Differences in role preference across tumor types were negligible. Conclusions: Roughly one half of the cancer patients studied indicated that they preferred to have a collaborative relationship with physicians, the remaining patients split equally between an active and passive role. The US cohort seemed to want to be more assertive than their Canadian counterparts and women ended up playing a more passive role than they preferred. Given these gender and cross-county differences these findings highlight the need for individualized patient communication styles to be incorporated into treatment plans No significant financial relationships to disclose.

AbstractBackgroundIn‐person cognitive‐behavioral stress‐management interventions are consistently associated with reduced cancer distress. However, face‐to‐face delivery is an access barrier for many patients, and there is a need to develop remote‐delivered interventions. The current study evaluated the preliminary efficacy of an application (app)‐based cancer stress‐management intervention, StressProffen, in a randomized controlled trial.MethodsCancer survivors, maximum 1‐year posttreatment (N = 172), were randomized to StressProffen (n = 84) or a usual care control group (n = 88). Participants received a blended delivery care model: (a) one face‐to‐face introduction session, (b) 10 app‐based cognitive‐behavioral stress‐management modules, and (c) follow‐up phone calls at weeks 2‐3 and 6‐7. Outcome measures included stress (Perceived Stress Scale), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale), and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL; Short‐Form Health Surveys [SF‐36]) at 3‐months post‐intervention, analyzed with change scores as dependent variables in linear regression models.ResultsParticipants were primarily women (82%), aged 20‐78 years (mean 52, SD 11.2), with mixed cancer types (majority breast cancer; 48%). Analysis of 149 participants completing questionnaires at baseline and 3 months revealed significant intervention effects: decreased stress (mean difference [MD] −2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], [−5.2 to −0.4]; P = .022) and improved HRQoL (Role Physical MD = 17.7, [CI 3.7‐31.3], P = .013; Social Functioning MD = 8.5, [CI 0.7‐16.2], P = .034; Role Emotional MD = 19.5, [CI 3.7‐35.2], P = .016; Mental Health MD = 6.7, [CI 1.7‐11.6], P = .009). No significant changes were observed for anxiety or depression.ConclusionsDigital‐based cancer stress‐management interventions, such as StressProffen, have the potential to provide easily accessible, effective psychosocial support for cancer survivors.

1610 Background: Low dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans have reduced lung cancer deaths by 20.3% in high risk populations, although there is an unknown balance between the benefits and harms of LDCT scans as a screening tool. Our purpose was to compare health-related QOL issues among lung cancer patients who were initially detected by LDCT scans; 4 comparison groups included: lung cancer diagnosed by a screening chest X-ray, as an incidental finding from procedures taken for other medical reasons, or based on symptoms indicative for lung cancer and routinely diagnosed, and individuals who were LDCT screened but found no lung cancer (controls who participated in Mayo’s lung cancer CT screening trial). Methods: A total of 1,658 lung cancer patients (cared at Mayo Clinic) in the 4 groups (37, 151, 389, and 1081 respectively) and 488 controls were compared on following patient-reported outcomes (collected via validated tools): overall QOL, four symptoms (cough, pain, dyspnea, fatigue), mental/ physical/ emotional/ social/ spiritual QOL, and other concerns (e.g., family/ friends/ financial/ legal). A clinically significant deficit was defined as at least 10-points in difference (or <50 points) on a 0-100 scale. The rates of deficits were compared via Fisher’s exact tests and average QOL values via Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: Overall QOL and individual symptoms were significantly worse (p<0.05) in all lung cancer groups than in controls, except for pain. LDCT-screened patients reported the greatest deficit among the 4 lung cancer groups in physical (41%), emotional (24%), social (38%), and spiritual QOL (24%); whereas chest X-ray detected patients had the least deficit in overall QOL (22%) and pain (32%). All 4 lung cancer groups experienced much worse fatigue (52-64%) than the controls (32%). Conclusions: Our preliminary results suggest that LDCT-screening detected lung cancer patients reported a different QOL profile from other lung cancer patients and non-lung cancer controls. The clinical course, smoking behavior, and QOL related health issues associated with LDCT screening for lung cancer warrant thorough investigation.

17511 Background: There is no published data regarding BMI changes in survivors of adult lymphoma. Methods: In October of 2004, we mailed a 23-page survey to 95 randomly selected patients from a population of 2,485 of patients from the Mayo Tumor Registry who had survived lymphoma from 5 to 20 years. 56 completed the survey for a 68% participation rate. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using clinical height and weight in the medical record at the time of diagnosis and self-reported weight in the survey response. Physical activity was self-reported. Based on their pattern of response, patients were categorized into a stage of change of current exercise (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, or maintenance). Mood disturbance (depression, anxiety, and distress) and quality of life (QOL) were self-reported using the CES-D, POMS, STAI, FACT-G, and LASA questionnaires. Scores were transformed to a scale of 0–100 (higher score meaning higher functioning) to allow comparisons with a difference of 10 points considered significant. Results: The median age at completion of the questionnaire was 62 years (range: 25–85). The median time since diagnosis was 11 years (range: 6–20). Regular fitness, defined as a stage of change for exercise of action or maintenance, was reported by 48% of the respondents. The median BMI at diagnosis was 25.6 and the median at time of questionnaire was 27.0, which is a statistically significant change. Change in BMI, BMI at diagnosis, and BMI at time of questionnaire had no correlation with level of physical activity. Obese patients had a mean score of 72 points on the LASA, which was significantly lower than normal and underweight patients (mean 86) and overweight patients (mean 84). Conclusions: A small, but significant increase in body mass index was noted in long-term lymphoma survivors from the time of diagnosis to long-term follow-up. Patients who were obese at time of diagnosis may have lower quality of life down-the-road, as measured by the LASA years following treatment. This data represents the first information about body mass index in survivors of adult lymphoma. Further larger studies are needed to confirm these preliminary data and to evaluate other aspects of health behavior in long-term survivors of lymphoma. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

The term “obesity” is associated with societal stigma and discrimination. Eight individual semi-structured interviews and five focus groups with 29 community-dwelling, rural older adults with obesity, seven primary care clinicians, and four rural community leaders were completed using purposive and snowball sampling. Clinicians perceived that older adults are less affected by obesity stigma than younger adults, yet this was not observed by community leaders; however, older participants with obesity reported that they often felt ashamed and/or stigmatized because of their weight. There was also a disconnect between clinician and older adult understanding of obesity. For older adults with obesity, the word “obesity” was associated with negative connotations. Just as physiological aspects of obesity persist into older adulthood, so do psychological aspects, such as perceptions of stigma. The use of the word “obesity” in medical settings may hinder communication between clinician and older participants. Heightened awareness may change the dialogue around obesity.

AbstractPurposeWe explored the feasibility of a clinical pathway to identify hospitalized patients with dementia who would benefit from a palliative intervention.Design and MethodsConsecutive geropsychiatric admissions were screened for terminal dementia to be randomized to a palliative consultation vs usual care.FindingsA total of 43 of the 188 patients (23%) had dementia; however, dementia stages were severe but not terminal. The pathway was not feasible because of the lack of the target population in the inpatient setting for the intervention.Practice ImplicationsNew clinical pathways are needed to identify patients with dementia who would benefit from palliative care.

Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the stress reduction effects of spending 25 minutes reclining in a SolTec™ Lounge between 2 intervention groups. Group 1 experienced the Lounge with multilayered music on an external speaker, while group 2 experienced the Lounge with multilayered music and synchronous vibration and magnetic stimulation from within the chair. Subjects In total, 110 participants with a self-reported stress level of 4 or higher on a 0- to 10-point scale were recruited from the local community including employees. Participants were randomized into receiving 1 of the 2 interventions. There were no significant differences between the group’s average stress levels prior to the interventions. Interventions Both groups received a 25-minute session in a dimly lit, quiet area on the Lounge with multilayered music. The second group also received vibration and magnetic stimulation that were synchronized with the music. Design Current stress level as well as ratings or feelings of anxiety, tenseness, energy, focus, happiness, relaxation, nervousness, creativeness, and being rested were recorded before and after the session. Results Both groups of participants reported equivalent decreased feelings of stress after using the Lounge. Participants receiving the synchronous multilayered music, vibration, and magnetic stimulation did report significantly reduced feelings of tenseness, feeling more relaxed, and feeling more creative when compared with the group that received music only. Conclusion Spending 25 minutes in the SolTec™ Lounge with multilayered music is an effective way to reduce self-reported stress in individuals who self-report having a high stress level. If confirmed by future studies, including synchronous vibration and magnetic stimulation with the multilayered music might be an effective stress reduction strategy.

Abstract Purpose Obesity is associated with alterations in appetite, gastrointestinal hormone levels and excessive fat mass. We previously published a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, 16-week trial on effects of once-daily glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog, liraglutide on weight, satiation, and gastric functions in obese volunteers. The aim of this substudy is to compare to placebo the effects of liraglutide on appetite, taste preference, regional body fat stores, and anthropometric measurements. Methods Forty obese adults received standard instruction for weight management, monthly behavioral intervention utilizing motivational interviews, and 16-week treatment of once-daily liraglutide (escalated to 3 mg SQ daily). At baseline and 16 weeks, the following were measured: appetite and taste preferences rated every 30 min for 5 h after ingesting 300 mL Ensure®; maximal tolerated volume (MTV) with a nutrient drink test; fasting and postprandial bioactive GLP-1 (7–36) and peptide YY (PYY) levels; total and regional body fat with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and waist and hip circumference. Results Thirty-five participants (17 liraglutide; 18 placebo) completed the trial. Compared to placebo group, liraglutide group had significant reductions in MTV; prospective food consumption score; desire to eat something sweet, salty, savory or fatty; and an increase in perceived fullness. Postprandial plasma levels of GLP-1 decreased and PYY levels increased with liraglutide relative to baseline. Significant reductions in total body, trunk, and upper and lower body fat without reduction in lean body mass were observed. Conclusion Liraglutide 3 mg SQ modulates appetite, taste preference, gut hormones, and regional body fat stores in adults with obesity without reduction in lean body mass.