Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39045654›Full record

ArticleThe oncologist2024

Patients' considerations of time toxicity when assessing cancer treatments with marginal benefit.

Arjun Gupta, Michael D Brundage, Jacqueline Galica, Safiya Karim, Rachel Koven, Terry L Ng, Jennifer O'Donnell, Julia tenHove, Andrew Robinson, Christopher M Booth

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in The oncologist, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
27citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

27 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Time toxicity in cancer care: a systematic review of definitions and measurement methods.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Cancer patients' experiences of "time toxicity": a qualitative meta-synthesis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Pooled it
  3. A qualitative exploration of factors that influence engagement with a digital mental health intervention for women with metastatic breast cancer: Finding My Way-Advanced.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Trial
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  8. The experience of time toxicity in cancer patients: a meta-synthesis of qualitative research.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Review
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  18. Observational
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  20. Patient-, care partner-, and clinician-proposed solutions to address the time toxicity of cancer care.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Article
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

10 authors.

Arjun GuptaDivision of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-0875-4731
Michael D BrundageCancer Care and Epidemiology, Sinclair Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L3N6, Canada.
Jacqueline GalicaCancer Care and Epidemiology, Sinclair Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L3N6, Canada.
Safiya KarimTom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, AB T2N4N2, Canada.
Rachel KovenPatient Advocate on behalf of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Sinclair Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L3N6, Canada.
Terry L NgDivision of Medical Oncology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON K1H8L6, Canada.
Jennifer O'DonnellCancer Care and Epidemiology, Sinclair Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L3N6, Canada.
Julia tenHoveCancer Care and Epidemiology, Sinclair Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L3N6, Canada.
Andrew RobinsonCancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, ON K7L2V7, Canada.
Christopher M BoothCancer Care and Epidemiology, Sinclair Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L3N6, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-1505-0575

Funding

CIHR 165888Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and Institutional Research 129819-IRG-21-049-61-IRG138
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEffective techniques for eliciting patients' preferences regarding their own care, when treatment options offer marginal gains and different risks, is an important clinical need. We sought to evaluate the association between patients' considerations of the time burdens of care ("time toxicity") with decisions about hypothetical treatment options.

methodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of a multicenter, mixed-methods study that evaluated patients' attitudes and preferences toward palliative-intent cancer treatments that delayed imaging progression-free survival (PFS) but did not improve overall survival (OS). We classified participants based on if they spontaneously volunteered one or more consideration of time burdens during qualitative interviews after treatment trade-off exercises. We compared the percentage of participants who opted for treatments with no PFS gain, some PFS gain, or who declined treatment regardless of PFS gain (in the absence of OS benefit). We conducted narrative analysis of themes related to time burdens.

resultsThe study cohort included 100 participants with advanced cancer (55% women, 63% age > 60 years, 38% with gastrointestinal cancer, and 80% currently receiving cancer-directed treatment. Forty-six percent (46/100) spontaneously described time burdens as a factor they considered in making treatment decisions. Participants who mentioned time (vs not) had higher thresholds for PFS gains required for choosing additional treatments (P value .004). Participants who mentioned time were more likely to decline treatments with no OS benefit irrespective of the magnitude of PFS benefit (65%, vs 31%). On qualitative analysis, we found that time burdens are influenced by several treatment-related factors and have broad-ranging impact, and illustrate how patients' experiences with time burdens and their preferences regarding time influence their decisions.

conclusionsAlmost half of participating patients spontaneously raised the issue of time burdens of cancer care when making hypothetical treatment decisions. These patients had notable differences in treatment preferences compared to those who did not mention considerations of time. Decision science researchers and clinicians should consider time burdens as an important attribute in research and in clinic.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overDecision MakingFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient Preferencepatient preferencesprogression-free survivaltime burdenstime toxicity

Identifiers

PMID39045654
PMCPMC11546709

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.