Patient Age Impacts Satisfaction with Physician-Provided Melanoma Information
Source: Dermatology Times, May 2022
Providing thorough, clear and actionable information is a key part of melanoma care; survey offers a look at where dermatologists can improve.
How much do patients with melanoma feel like their physicians inform them about the disease and related tests, treatments, and self-help options? It may depend on their age. Whereas middle-aged patientsappear most satisfied with melanoma information provided by their doctors, elderly patients report the least satisfaction, according to a survey of Swedish patients published in BMC Cancer.
Investigators sent a cross-sectional survey covering qualityoflife, information, and symptoms to 1213 patients diagnosed with melanoma during 2013-2014. Among 792 respondents,key findings were as follows:
- Patients over age 70 reported receiving less information, and were less satisfied with that information, than younger patients.
- Patients between ages 18 and 39 were most likely to want more information.
- Patients between 40 and 69 years old were most satisfied with the information they received compared to younger and older patients.
- The perception of having received enough information correlated positively with functional and quality-of-life scores, and negatively with levels of anxiety and depression.