What determines the timing of discussions on forgoing anticancer treatment? A national survey of medical oncologists.

purposeEnd-of-life discussions (EOLd) including the option of forgoing anticancer treatment infrequently occur until treatment options have been exhausted for advanced cancer patients. We aimed to identify oncologist-related factors contributing to the timing of discussing the option of forgoing anticancer treatment.

methodsIn this nationwide survey of 864 medical oncologists, we asked about physicians' attitudes toward the timing of discussing the option of forgoing anticancer treatment for a simulated patient with newly diagnosed metastatic cancer, physicians' experience of EOLd, perceptions of a good death, and beliefs. Multivariate analyses identified determinants of early discussions.

resultsAmong 490 physicians (response rate = 57%), 167 (35%) would discuss the option of forgoing anticancer treatment "now (at the diagnosis)." Physicians' attitudes toward discussing the option "now" were significantly correlated with a greater physician-perceived importance of life completion (odds ratio (OR) = 1.30, 95%CI = 1.00-1.69, p = 0.048) and dying in a preferred place (OR = 1.29, 95%CI = 1.01-1.65, p = 0.045) for a good death, and not perceiving EOLd as being severely distressing for patients/families (OR = 0.70, 95%CI = 0.54-0.95, p = 0.021). In multivariate analyses, independent determinants of the attitude toward discussing the option now included a greater physician-perceived importance of life completion for a good death (OR = 1.38, 95%CI = 1.05-1.81, p = 0.019), and not perceiving EOLd as being severely distressing for patients/families (OR = 0.70, 95%CI = 0.52-0.94, p = 0.017).

conclusionsReflection by oncologists on their own perception regarding a good death and beliefs about EOLd may help oncologists individualize the timing of discussing the option of forgoing anticancer treatment.