title: 'What matters to me': an international online survey of people treating, affected by and living with lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lung cancer is a common malignancy that occurs worldwide and generally has a poor prognosis. Its diagnosis presents significant physical and emotional challenges for patients and their family, friends and caregivers (FFCs). This study aimed to gain insights into patients' and FFCs' perspectives regarding lung cancer and its treatment, as well as physicians' perceptions of patients' thoughts about their illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  An international online survey was conducted, assessing 113 patients diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer, 70 corresponding FFCs and 188 treating physicians. Data were collected using an interactive internet-based tool, in order to establish respondents' priorities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interesting differences between patients', FFCs' and physicians' perspectives on lung cancer were revealed. For all respondents, the primary feeling about lung cancer was described as "sadness". Patients were more likely to express a determination to be positive, whereas fear was a common response for FFCs and was a perspective also reported by physicians. Physicians' views on how they had communicated disease information were more positive than those of the patients, with many patients detecting physician hesitancy to communicate negative news.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides important insights into the self-reported thoughts and feelings of patients with lung cancer, their personal networks of FFCs and the physicians who care for them.
authors: Primary Medical Care Group, Primary Care & Population Science Unit, University of Southampton School of Medicine, Aldermoor Health Centre, Southampton, SO16 5ST, UK. g.m.leydon@soton.ac.uk
authors: Geraldine M
authors: GM
authors: Leydon
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Guerin
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Eyles
authors: Lesley
authors: L
authors: Jacques
authors: Liz
authors: L
authors: Darlison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D004644:Emotions; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009862:Online Systems; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure