A Multinational Real-World Study On Hr+, Her2-Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients' Disease Awareness, Satisfaction, And Involvement In Treatment Decisions

Among patients [pts] diagnosed with early-stage HR+, HER2- breast cancer (BC), this study aimed to describe awareness, information sources, satisfaction and degree of involvement in treatment decisions. A multinational (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Japan and US) survey of pts diagnosed with stage I-III HR+, HER2- BC was conducted from June to October 2019. Pts identified by their physician were invited to complete a pen and paper questionnaire with questions on awareness of 4 aspects of their BC (stage, nodal status, HER2 and HR status), information sources used, satisfaction, and involvement in treatment decisions for their BC. 1152 pts completed the questionnaire (mean age 59 years; 33% with degreed education; 31% pre/peri-menopausal and 1% male; Stage at diagnosis: I 30%, II 48%, III 22%). UK pts were most aware of all 4 aspects of their BC (58%), Italian (18%) and Japanese (20%) pts the least aware. Pts reporting being actively involved in treatment decisions was highest in Germany (68%) and least in Spain (30%). Awareness of all 4 aspects of their BC was highest among pts with degreed education (48%), with 63% reporting active involvement in treatment decisions; and lowest amongst those with no degreed education (30%), with 47% reporting active involvement. Pre/peri-menopausal pts were most aware of all 4 aspects of their BC (46%) (post-menopausal pts (31%). 90% of all pts cited their doctor as an information source. The second most common source was the internet amongst pre/peri-menopausal pts (57%) and family/friends for post-menopausal pt (39%). 71% who very much agree with the statement ‘I am satisfied with how well I am coping with my illness’ feel they are actively involved in treatment decisions compared to 44% of who do not agree at all with the statement. A high proportion of pts satisfied with how they were coping with their illness were actively involved in their treatment decisions. Knowledge and involvement were highest in pts with degreed education and amongst pre/peri-menopausal pts, suggesting there may be a need to raise knowledge and awareness in older pts or those without a degreed education.