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ABSTRACT: Background
This study aimed to analyze the determinants of patients' choice between palliative chemotherapy and best supportive care (BSC) and to investigate how this choice affects overall survival (OS) and length of hospitalization according to Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS).Methods
An oncologist explained the palliative chemotherapy and BSC options to 129 patients with incurable cancer during their first consultation. Data on the ECOG PS, treatment decision, OS, and the length of hospitalization were retrospectively collected over 4?years.Results
Patients with an ECOG PS of 0-2 chose palliative chemotherapy more often than those with an ECOG PS of 3-4 (P??70 (P?2?=?0.683) and the length of hospitalization was approximately one-third of their OS.Conclusions
The determinants for treatment choice were age, ECOG PS and type of cancer, not sex difference. Oncologists should explain to patients that OS and the length of hospitalization vary according to the ECOG PS when selecting between palliative chemotherapy and BSC.
SUBMITTER: Murakawa Y
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6547558 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Murakawa Yasuko Y Sakayori Masato M Otsuka Kazunori K
BMC palliative care 20190603 1
<h4>Background</h4>This study aimed to analyze the determinants of patients' choice between palliative chemotherapy and best supportive care (BSC) and to investigate how this choice affects overall survival (OS) and length of hospitalization according to Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS).<h4>Methods</h4>An oncologist explained the palliative chemotherapy and BSC options to 129 patients with incurable cancer during their first consultation. Data on the ECOG PS, tre ...[more]