Values and preferences of Japanese elderly cancer patients about decision-making process

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16948
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52010:General internal medicine-related
• Research Institution: National Cancer Center Japan (2020-2022); Nagoya University (2019)
• Principal Investigator: Matsuoka Ayumu 国立研究開発法人国立がん研究センター, がん対策研究所, 特任研究員 (70833870)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 高齢者機能評価 / 意思決定支援

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The values of elderly cancer patients are diverse and important in treatment decision making. A questionnaire to prioritize values regarding the trade-off between quality of life and prolongation of life, and between present health and future health (a situation in which pursuing one requires sacrificing the other) may be useful in making treatment decisions for elderly Japanese cancer patients. The questionnaire for prioritizing values (i.e., the state of having to sacrifice one for the other) may be useful in making treatment decisions for elderly Japanese cancer patients. While healthcare providers treating elderly cancer patients felt difficulties in making treatment choices, such as judging the standard of care and indications for treatment and assessing treatment risks, they also felt difficulties in caring for elderly patients, such as dealing with dementia, managing physical comorbidities, assessing social support, and family caregiving skills.

Free Research Field

老年腫瘍学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本人の高齢がん患者の治療方針決定において、生活の質と延命のどちらを優先するか、現在の健康と未来の健康のどちらを優先するか、という2つのトレードオフ（一方を追求すれば他方を犠牲にしなければならない状態）について、価値観の優先順位付けをするために海外で作成された質問票の日本語訳を作成した。このツールを用いることで、高齢がん患者の治療方針決定において、患者・医師コミュニケーションを促進し、患者中心の医療の実現に資することができると考えられる。