Self-reported experience and outcomes of care among stomach cancer patients at a median follow-up time of 27 months from diagnosis

Goals of work: We aimed to identify clinical experiences associated with outcomes of care among stomach cancer patients. Materials and methods: Four hundred thirty-two patients who had a diagnosis of stage I-III stomach cancer from 2001 through 2002 from two hospitals in South Korea responded to a survey questionnaire including sociodemographic and clinical data, information about care experiences, satisfaction with care, and quality of life (QOL). Main results: Involvement in decision making [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=1.81; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13 to 2.89] and reflection of patients' opinions in treatment decisions (aOR=2.54; 95% CI, 1.65 to 3.93) were associated with decision satisfaction. The factors associated with willingness to choose the same treatment over again were involvement in decision making (aOR=2.37; 95% CI, 1.53 to 3.68) and no treatment toxicity (aOR=0.50; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.87). Involvement in decision making, reflection of patients' opinions in treatment decisions, and treatment toxicity were associated with some functioning subscales of QOL (p<0.05). Regular follow-up, however, was associated with poor social functioning. Conclusions: Quality improvement efforts for stomach cancer patients should focus not only on the quality of primary tumor therapy but also on how patients experience their care, such as patient-centered decision making, experience of treatment toxicity, and regular follow-up.