ArticleImmunomedicine2021
Understanding Immunotherapy Terminology: An Analysis of Provider-Patient Conversations.
Article in Immunomedicine, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Latent profile analysis of self-management and its association with quality of life differences in patients with cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing · 2025Article
- A mixed-method analysis of oncologist-patient communications about immune checkpoint inhibitors (COACH).The oncologist · 2025Article
- Association Between Area-Level Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Immunotherapy in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.Cancer medicine · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundImmunotherapy terminology is complex and can be difficult for patients to understand, threatening informed consent. The aims of this exploratory study are to determine whether patients understand immunotherapy terminology and if the provider defining the term improves patient understanding.
methodsConversations between oncology providers and patients discussing immunotherapy were observed(n=39), and technical terms used were noted. With consent, patients were interviewed post-conversation to assess their understanding of these terms(n=39). Comparisons of the terms were conducted using chi-square tests, Fisher's exact tests, or ANOVA where appropriate.
results'Immunotherapy' was the most difficult for participants to understand with 48.7% (19/39) correctly defining immunotherapy. 'Immunotherapy agents' was understood 53.8% (14/26) of the time. 'Immune system' was well understood (88.5%;23/26). Providers defined immunotherapy in 97.4% of conversations. There was no correlation between having immunotherapy defined in the conversation, and the likelihood of a correct definition (p=0.487). 'Immune system' was defined in 92.3% of conversations (n=26), and defining it in the conversation was correlated with increased patient understanding (p=0.009).
conclusionOur results indicate that patients have difficulty understanding some immunotherapy terminology. Since patient understanding of key terminology is crucial for informed consent and patient care, it is essential to implement interventions to improve understanding.
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