title: Quality of life and disease understanding: impact of attending a patient-centered cancer symposium.
abstract: To evaluate the impact of a patient-centered symposium as an educational intervention on a broad population of cancer patients. We developed a comprehensive patient symposium. Through voluntary questionnaires, we studied the impact of this cancer symposium on quality of life, cancer-specific knowledge, and symptom management among cancer patients. Symposium attendees were provided surveys prior to and 3 months following the educational intervention. Surveys included (1) EORTC-QLQ-C30; (2) disease understanding tool developed for this conference; (3) validated disease-specific questionnaires. Changes over time were assessed using McNemar's tests and paired t-tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. A total of 158 attendees completed the pre-convention survey. Most respondents reported at least "quite a bit" of understanding regarding treatment options, screening modalities, symptomatology, and cancer-related side effects. Attendees endorsed the least understanding of disease-related stress, risk factors, fatigue management, and legal issues related to disease/treatment. At 3 months, there was improvement in understanding (12 of 14 areas of self-reported knowledge especially regarding nutrition, and stress/fatigue management). However, no significant change was seen in QLQ-C30 functioning, fatigue, pain, or insomnia. A patient symposium, as an educational intervention improves a solid knowledge base amongst attendees regarding their disease, increases knowledge in symptom management, but may be insufficient to impact QoL as a single intervention.
authors: Internal Medicine Residency Program, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.
authors: Leslie
authors: L
authors: Padrnos
authors: Division of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.
authors: Amylou C
authors: AC
authors: Dueck
authors: Internal Medicine Residency Program, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.
authors: Robyn
authors: R
authors: Scherber
authors: Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.
authors: Pamela
authors: P
authors: Glassley
authors: Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Stigge
authors: Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.
authors: Donald
authors: D
authors: Northfelt
authors: Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Mikhael
authors: Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.
authors: Annette
authors: A
authors: Aguirre
authors: Paradise Valley Community College, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors: Robert M
authors: RM
authors: Bennett
authors: Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.
authors: Ruben A
authors: RA
authors: Mesa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Cancer education; cancer survivorship; cancer symposia; educational intervention; patient education; quality of life
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