WCLC 2025 - Posters & ePosters-P1.17.36 Perspectives on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Physicians and Patients With ALK-Positive NSCLC in China

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This cross-sectional online survey from September-October 2024 investigated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) perspectives among 200 physicians and 200 patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) across six regions in China. Patients were adults with locally advanced or metastatic ALK-positive NSCLC receiving first-line ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs). Physicians were experienced oncologists, pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, or radiotherapists involved in ALK-positive NSCLC care.<br /><br />Findings revealed both groups prioritized efficacy and safety when selecting ALK-TKIs; however, patients emphasized HRQoL more than physicians. While 92.5% of patients were willing to learn about HRQoL improvements tied to treatments, familiarity with HRQoL was moderate, with 65.5% of physicians and 60% of patients rating themselves as somewhat or extremely familiar. Patients valued cognitive and role functioning dimensions of HRQoL more than physicians, who instead focused on physical symptoms like coughing, hemoptysis, and shortness of breath. Conversely, patients highlighted cancer pain, peripheral neuropathy, appetite loss, and neurological issues (cognitive impairment, hallucinations) as greatly affecting their quality of life.<br /><br />There was a notable discrepancy in symptom perception; for example, 95% of patients reported experiencing cancer pain (mostly severe), contrasting with physicians who reported severe pain in a smaller proportion of their patients. Awareness and use of PROMs were higher among physicians (89%) than patients (51%). Physicians cited barriers to PROM implementation like low patient cooperation, whereas patients focused on privacy and interpretability.<br /><br />While 76% of physicians spent about 40% of consultation time discussing HRQoL, only 45% of patients expected that much focus on this topic. Most physicians (67%) and fewer patients (32.5%) had used HRQoL PROMs clinically, mainly EORTC QLQ-C30. Both groups expressed strong interest in further HRQoL education and training.<br /><br />The study highlights gaps between physicians and patients in perceptions, symptom prioritization, clinical practice, and expectations surrounding HRQoL and PROMs in ALK-positive NSCLC treatment. It underscores the need for better integration of patient-centered HRQoL assessment, improved symptom management—especially pain and neurological symptoms—and enhanced education and PROM implementation to optimize care and shared decision-making in China.

Asset Subtitle

Yan Huang

Meta Tag

Speaker Yan Huang

Topic Global Health, Health Services, and Health Economics

Keywords

ALK-positive NSCLC

health-related quality of life

patient-reported outcome measures

ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors

physician-patient perception gap

symptom management

cognitive and role functioning

cancer pain

PROM implementation barriers

China oncology survey