« Regards croisés 2009 »: enquête menée auprès de patients atteints de cancer et de professionnels de santé sur la perception de la fatigue et de l’anémie chimio-induite, typologies et enseignements
Menée auprès de 33 patients atteints de cancer présentant une anémie induite par une chimiothérapie et de 359 professionnels de la santé, cette étude française évalue leurs perceptions de la fatigue et leurs attentes en matière de prise en charge
Regards croisés 2009 survey was conducted following the first French Cancer Plan, on 300 cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia and 359 health professionals (physicians and nurses), to evaluate and compare their perceptions of fatigue and chemotherapy-induced anemia management. The patients included were diagnosed with breast, lung or colorectal cancer, or non-myeloid malignant hemopathy, their anemia (defined by an Hb level < 11 g/dl according to 2007 European recommendations) was either treated or not. The main populations’ analysis and secondary subgroups’ analysis, by types of cancer and physician specializations, have been reported in previous articles. This article aims to present the results of an exploratory analysis of subgroups classified by age (< 70 and ≥ 70 years of age) and of a typological analysis performed in order to identify patient profiles with similar attitude and/or behaviour regarding fatigue. Subgroup analysis by age did not show any difference related to age, concerning perception of fatigue and expectations of its management. Fatigue in elderly patients must therefore be managed in the same way as fatigue in young patients. The typological analysis has identified four types of patients with clearly defined differences in their attitude and behavior towards fatigue: highly fatigued and demanding (33%), highly fatigued andmoderately demanding (30%), coping with fatigue (26%), relatively undemanding (11%). Identification of patients’ profiles during consultation may enable fatigue management adapted to their expectations. A typological analysis of physicians is also briefly presented. It emphasizes differences in physicians’ attitudes toward patients’ fatigue, irrespective of their overall involvement in fatigue management. The Regards croisés 2009 survey thus provides valuable insights on the perception of fatigue and the improvements required at the dawn of the second Cancer Plan.