When it comes to cancer, it’s important for patients to have an advance care plan — a healthcare proxy or a living will or both. A proxy carries out healthcare choices in the event the patient cannot.
Researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle compared the psychological well-being of patients with blood cancers with an advance care plan to those without one. The goal is to help understand how best to design interventions that may increase the number of patients with an advance care plan.
The study of 293 patients with blood cancers found patients in both groups have similar psychosocial well-being, except for patterns of coping. Patients who have a plan use more problem-focused coping patterns versus emotion-focused coping patterns, said Fausto Loberiza Jr., M.D., lead author and associate professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine section of hematology/oncology.
Blood cancers include leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndrome.
Problem-focused coping is defined as problem solving by doing something to alter the source of stress. Coping techniques include taking advice, discussing feelings with others, planning, and having a positive outlook.
Emotion-focused coping techniques include denial, behavioral or mental disengagement, turning to religion, self-blame, and substance abuse.
The study was presented Dec. 6 by Dr. Loberiza during the annual meeting of American Society of Hematology. His was one of 20 studies of 3,000 to be highlighted to the media.
“In order to increase engagement in advance care planning, it is important to focus on the practical importance regardless of prognosis and de-emphasize the emotional aspects,” said Dr. Loberiza. “This approach may be more appealing to our patients regardless of coping style.”
Advance care planning provides patients with the opportunity to communicate with their family and healthcare provider about their end-of-life choices.
“While advance care planning may be more relevant for someone who has a life-threatening disease, it really is important to all individuals, and we hope that more people engage in this important process,” Dr. Loberiza said.
As the state’s only academic health science center, UNMC is on the leading edge of health care. Breakthroughs are possible because hard-working researchers, educators and clinicians are resolved to work together to fuel discovery. In 2009, UNMC’s extramural research support topped $100 million for the first time, resulting in the creation of 3,600 jobs in Nebraska. UNMC’s academic excellence is shown through its award-winning programs, and its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through its commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading health care centers. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 550 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.