2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) - Posters-P2.16E.01 Lung Cancer Patients' Support Preferences: Insights from a Global Patient Experience Survey

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The Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC) reaffirmed the rights of lung cancer patients to dignity, respect, and informed self-determination. A global survey aimed to understand the experiences of these patients, focusing on the support they receive versus their preferences. Conducted in 2024, the survey included 905 participants from 18 countries, revealing significant insights.<br /><br />The survey showed that the majority of patients currently receive support from healthcare professionals (66.5%) and family and friends (61.8%). In-person support groups and other sources such as counselling, social media, and spiritual communities also played roles, albeit to a lesser extent. Notably, there are discrepancies between the support people desire and what they receive. For instance, while 23.4% of patients wanted counselling or therapy, only 19% currently accessed these services. <br /><br />Preferences largely aligned with current support sources, indicating a desire for healthcare professionals' guidance (69.2%) and support from family and friends (60.1%). Patients expressed an interest in both in-person and virtual modes of support, highlighting the need for tailored services from patient organizations and providers to meet diverse needs effectively.<br /><br />The research advocates for the adaptation of support services and interventions to address these preferences and gaps, offering both traditional and innovative support models. Future investigations might examine the effectiveness of varied support models across the patient journey, adding to the understanding of lung cancer patients' support needs globally.<br /><br />The survey's findings indicate the necessity for enhanced and accessible counselling/therapy options, alongside the pivotal roles of healthcare professionals and personal networks in supporting lung cancer patients. The complete results and insights are to be made available on the GLCC website for further study and implementation.

Asset Subtitle

Karen Clayton

Meta Tag

Speaker Karen Clayton

Topic Patient Advocacy

Keywords

Global Lung Cancer Coalition

lung cancer patients

dignity and respect

informed self-determination

global survey

support preferences

healthcare professionals

counselling and therapy

support models

patient organizations