Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25655038›Full record

ArticlePsycho-oncology2015

An exploratory study of end-of-life prognostic communication needs as reported by widowed fathers due to cancer.

Eliza M Park, Devon K Check, Justin M Yopp, Allison M Deal, Teresa P Edwards, Donald L Rosenstein

Open access · greenAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Psycho-oncology, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
2.6field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Eliza M ParkDepartment of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Devon K CheckDepartment of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Justin M YoppDepartment of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Allison M DealLineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Teresa P EdwardsH. W. Odum Institute for Research in Social Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Donald L RosensteinDepartment of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · US

Funding

Cancer Training GrantR25CA116339 · NCI · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI BASCH, ETHAN M., REEVE, BRYCE B · 2008 to 2017
$4.0M
NCI NIH HHS R25 CA116339
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveEffective physician communication about prognosis is a critical aspect of quality care for families affected by terminal illness. This is particularly important for spousal caregivers of terminally ill parents of dependent children, who may have unique needs for communication about anticipated death. The objective of this study was to explore end-of-life prognostic communication experiences reported by bereaved fathers whose wives died from cancer.

methodsFrom October 2012 to November 2013 we surveyed widowed fathers whose wives died from cancer through an open-access educational website. The survey included the following open-ended questions regarding prognostic communication: 'What is the most important thing you would like us to know about whether/how your wife's doctors communicated with you about her anticipated death? What do you wish had been different, if anything?' We performed traditional content analysis of responses. Two researchers coded and categorized the data.

resultsTwo hundred forty-four men responded to the survey questions on prognostic communication. Major themes addressed by respondents were the importance of clear and honest communication and physician bedside manner. They also identified unmet information needs, including wanting to know prognosis sooner. Relevant sub-themes included death coming as a surprise, avoidance, and caregiver regret.

conclusionsSurviving spouses due to cancer can provide important insights for health care providers about optimum prognostic communication at the end of life. Increased physician attention to the communication preferences of both patients and their partners may improve bereavement outcomes for family members.

Indexed as

CommunicationHealth Services Needs and DemandProfessional-Family RelationsTerminal CareAdultBereavementChildFathersFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasmsPrognosisSurveys and QuestionnairesWidowhood

Identifiers

PMID25655038
PMCPMC5081688
OpenAlexW2155880674

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.