Coping styles, health status and advance care planning in patients with hematologic malignancies

Leuk Lymphoma. 2011 Dec;52(12):2342-8. doi: 10.3109/10428194.2011.601474. Epub 2011 Aug 18.

Abstract

This study evaluated whether measures of psychological well-being, including coping style, are associated with advance care planning (ACP). Data were from the Hematology Communications Study (HEMA-COMM), a prospective observational study of physician-patient communication in patients with hematologic malignancies. ACP was defined as having a living will, having a health care proxy, discussing life support with family or friends and discussing life support with a doctor or nurse. A total of 293 patients participated: only 45 (15%) had all the elements of ACP; 215 (73%) had at least one element of ACP, while 33 (11%) did not engage in ACP. In multivariate analysis, specific coping styles but not other measures of psychosocial well-being were associated with having written ACP. Verbal ACP was associated with patient-reported health and physician estimate of life expectancy. Our study suggests that tailoring ACP discussions to a patient's coping style may increase engagement in ACP.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Advance Care Planning*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Health Status*
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Life Expectancy
  • Life Support Care / psychology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Young Adult