title: Importance and timing of end-of-life care discussions among gynecologic oncology patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the importance and desired timing of end-of-life care (EOLC) discussions among women with gynecologic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire related to EOLC issues was distributed to patients with gynecologic cancer. Answers were analyzed via SPSS using descriptive statistics. Contingency analysis was done to evaluate for differences among disease status and age regarding preferences for timing of discussions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients expressed that addressing EOLC is an important part of their treatment. Most patients were familiar with advanced directives (73.0%), do not resuscitate/do not intubate (88.5%), and hospice (97.5%). Designating someone to make decisions was significantly related to disease status (P = .03) and age (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients are familiar with basic EOLC with optimal timing for discussions at disease progression or when treatment is no longer available.
authors.affiliation: The Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. tdiazmol@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Teresa P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Díaz-Montes
authors.forename: Megan K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Giuntoli
authors.forename: Alaina J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016223:Advance Directives / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D062072:Patient Acuity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors