Peaceful acceptance of illness among older adults with cancer.

Authors

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Elizabeth Gilbride

University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Elizabeth Gilbride , Sofiia Hryniv , Supriya Gupta Mohile , Sule Yilmaz , Eva Culakova , Beverly Canin , Arul Malhotra , Elie G. Dib , Adedayo A. Onitilo , Jeffrey L. Berenberg , Marissa LoCastro , Maya Anand , Allison Magnuson , Kah Poh Loh , William Consagra

Organizations

University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, University of Rocheser Medical Center, Rochester, NY, SCOREboard Advisory Group, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, Michigan Cancer Research Consortium, Ypsilanti, MI, Wisconsin NCORP, Marshfield, WI, Hawaii MUNCORP, Honolulu, HI, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Research Funding

U.S. National Institutes of Health
U.S. National Institutes of Health, PCORI

Background: Greater illness acceptance is associated with lower levels of psychological distress and higher rates of completion of advance care planning in adults with advanced cancer. However, studies on factors associated with illness acceptance among older adults with advanced cancer are limited and historically have not explored its relationship with caregiver or physician characteristics, despite the important role caregivers and oncologists play in patient illness acceptance. We aimed to evaluate the associations of patient, caregiver, and physician-related factors with illness acceptance among older adults with cancer. Methods: We utilized data from a national geriatric assessment cluster-randomized trial (NCT 02054741; PI: Mohile; funding NCI UG1CA189961). We recruited patients aged 70 years or over with stage III or IV incurable solid tumors or lymphoma and at least one geriatric assessment domain impairment as well as their caregivers. Illness acceptance was assessed using the 5-item Peace, Equanimity, and Acceptance in the Cancer Experience (PEACE) questionnaire (range 5-20). Higher PEACE score indicates greater illness acceptance. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the associations of patient, caregiver, and physician-related variables with PEACE. Variables included patient sociodemographic factors, geriatric assessment variables, and estimated life expectancy; caregiver sociodemographic variables, anxiety, depression, and physical function; and oncologist years in practice and comfort with geriatrics. Results: We included 333 patient-caregiver dyads; mean age (SD) of patients and caregivers, respectively, were 76.8 (5.4) and 66.6 (12.1). Approximately 27%, 26%, and 16% of patients had lung, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary cancers, respectively. Mean PEACE score was 17.4 (2.5), indicating relatively high illness acceptance (Table). On regression analysis, patient psychological impairment domain (including both anxiety and depression) (B=-0.89; p>0.01), patient’s lower estimated life expectancy (≤1 vs. >5 years, B=-1.19, p=0.02), and lower caregiver education attainment (≤high school vs. college; B=-0.86; p<0.01) were associated with a lower illness acceptance. No physician variables were associated with PEACE. Conclusions: A better understanding of illness acceptance and its associated factors can facilitate patient-caregiver dyadic interventions to improve illness acceptance.

PEACE questionnaire.

Not at allTo a slight extentTo some extentTo a large extent
To what extent are you able to accept your diagnosis of cancer?0.3%3.3%25.5%70.9%
To what extent would you say you have a sense of inner peace and harmony?3.3%8.1%43.5%45.0%
To what extent do you feel that you have made peace with your illness?4.5%8.7%39.0%47.7%
Do you feel well loved now?0.6%1.2%8.1%90.1%
To what extent do you feel a sense of inner calm and tranquility?2.1%9.6%45.3%42.9%

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2023 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Symptoms and Survivorship

Track

Symptom Science and Palliative Care

Sub Track

Geriatric Models of Care

Citation

J Clin Oncol 41, 2023 (suppl 16; abstr 12045)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.12045

Abstract #

12045

Poster Bd #

413

Abstract Disclosures

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