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A. Warby



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    P2.08 - Poster Session/ Thymoma, Mesothelioma and Other Thoracic Malignancies (ID 225)

    • Event: WCLC 2015
    • Type: Poster
    • Track: Thymoma, Mesothelioma and Other Thoracic Malignancies
    • Presentations: 1
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      P2.08-004 - Healthcare Professional Perceptions of Chemotherapy in Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) (ID 3240)

      09:30 - 09:30  |  Author(s): A. Warby

      • Abstract

      Background:
      Background: An evidence-based chemotherapy utilisation model for MPM suggests rates of use should be around 65%. Actual Australian rates are about 54%. Aim: To examine healthcare professional perceptions of chemotherapy use and barriers to it in MPM patients.

      Methods:
      Methods: Healthcare professionals caring for people with MPM were invited via email from professional groups, to complete a purpose designed online survey. Data were collected from January-July 2014. Descriptive data are presented.

      Results:
      Results: Surveys were completed by 102 doctors (Respiratory Physicians=53, Medical Oncologists (MO)=35, Other=15) and 19 nurses. Doctors mean age 47 (31-75) years, 74% male, 49% worked only in public system, 57% did not have lung cancer nurse specialist, and saw mean of 7 new patients with MPM annually. Nurses mean age 45 (29-68) years, all female, 53% worked only in public system, and saw mean of 12 (1-40) new patients with MPM annually. 74% of doctors and 53% of nurses believed >11% of MPM patients potentially eligible for chemotherapy do not receive it. Clinician barriers most commonly endorsed include: clinician nihilism 70%, 37%; non-referral to MO 47%, 63%; lack of cancer services 43%, 53%; no MDT review 40%, 32% for doctor, nurse respectively. 74% of nurses also indicated delayed diagnosis and 58% lack of clinician knowledge about treatment.

      Conclusion:
      Conclusions: Healthcare professionals’ estimates of potentially eligible patients with MPM who do not receive chemotherapy are consistent with or higher than evidence-based estimates. Barriers to chemotherapy access endorsed suggest strategies to increase knowledge of evidence-based treatment and address clinical nihilism are required.