Introduction

Background

Lung cancer is one of the most frequent cancers in Europe and the most common cause of cancer-related death [1]. Worldwide the 5-year net survival rate is 10–20% [2], with most patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease. Despite advances in therapies for metastatic lung cancer, the disease remains incurable and the prognosis is limited for most patients [3].

Communication with lung cancer patients with limited prognosis comprises a series of breaking bad news along the disease trajectory: diagnosis, tumor progression, transition to best supportive care. Most importantly, the quality of care for these patients depends on the communication skills of their healthcare professionals [4]. Patient-centered communication includes comprehensive, intelligible, and truthful information. Patients have different information needs, different levels of resilience, and different coping strategies, and physicians need to tailor the amount and the content of information given to their patients [5].

Studies on physician–patient consultations show that patients seem to have difficulties in processing and recalling information concerning their disease and prognosis, especially if the treatment intention is palliative and not curative [6, 7]. From the patient perspective, physicians are responsible for initiating information on prognosis and advance care planning [8]. Furthermore, when mentioning prognostic information, physicians tend towards disease-orientated communication, focusing on tumor-specific therapy [6]. Patients with lung cancer seem to underestimate the extent of the disease and overestimate the cure possibilities [6], and their prognostic awareness swings to varying degrees [9]. Numerous high-quality studies demonstrate the inability of Advance Care Planning (ACP) to achieve its desired outcomes. There is supposed to be a gap between hypothetical assumptions and the decision-making process in clinical practice [10] which needs further investigation. Numerous communication interventions for breaking bad news and serious illness conversations have been developed and show positive outcomes for patients [11,12,13]. But communication interventions often fail to translate into meaningful patient care outcomes in routine clinical practice [14]. One possible reason is inadequate tailoring and implementation of the intervention within the given setting [15]. Therefore, projects must incorporate an implementation phase and implementation outcomes.

Before 2018, most studies on communication interventions used either a quantitative or qualitative approach to study feasibility and effects. Therefore, we chose qualitative and quantitative approaches within a mixed-methods design to gain an extensive understanding of what works and why it works [16]. Mixed methods allow data to be corroborated and conclusions to be derived from diverse perspectives [17]. They help in integrating results on unforeseen questions that arise during analysis. The data integration of mixed methods generates insights into, e.g., identifying subgroup characteristics, demonstrating parallels between scaled scores and behavioral categories, and showing patterns of relationships [18].

A milestone communication approach (MCA) to address communication needs has been developed, implemented, and evaluated using mixed methods. Some MCA results were analyzed separately and have been published [19,20,21]. The results of the pragmatic randomized controlled trial showed significantly fewer health system and information needs (SCNS-34-SF) in the MCA group compared to the control group (MCA: M = 33.4, SD = 27.5; standard care: M = 43.1, SD = 29.9, p = 0.033; effect size: Cohen’s d =  − 0.0.37) [22]. Other results raised questions in interpretation: the quantitative content analysis of patient records showed that prognosis and advance care planning were documented in fewer than 20–30% of the patient records [21] and the randomized controlled trial did not show differences between the MCA and control group for the secondary outcomes: distress, quality of life, and mood [19]. Data integration of the quantitative and qualitative results helped in gaining an insight in the answers to the following questions:

  • What are possible explanations from the patient perspective for prognosis and advance care planning being a topic in fewer than 20–30% of patient records?

  • What are possible explanations from the patient perspective for finding no differences between MCA and control groups concerning distress, quality of life, and mood (anxiety/depression)?

Methods

Milestones communication approach (MCA)—a complex intervention

MCA offers planned and structured milestone conversations along the disease trajectory involving the patient, family caregiver, nurse navigator, and physician. Milestone conversations take place during the following phases: (1) diagnosis, (2) tumor remission under treatment, (3) tumor progression, and (4) transition to best supportive care. All MCA intervention components can be seen in Table 1. MCA’s goal is (a) to respond to the communication needs of patients and caregivers, (b) to enhance continuity of care, (c) to support individual quality of life of patients and their caregivers, (d) to cultivate shared decision-making including end-of-life decisions, and (e) to promote communication proficiency and team processes of the interprofessional oncology team [23].

Table 1 MCA components and materials
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The milestone conversations contain breaking bad news, planning advanced cancer care, assessing prognostic awareness, and enhancing communication competencies and treatment choices [5, 9, 22]. A nurse navigator with palliative care experience contacts the patients 1 week after each milestone conversation and then at least monthly. During the follow-up, the nurse navigator answers questions, assesses palliative needs using the Integrated Palliative Outcome Scale (IPOS) [24] and consults or refers depending on the physical, psychosocial, and health system problems stated by the patients. The Intervention development and the intervention have been described in more detail [23, 25].

Design and setting

The MCA study involves a variety of procedures and leads to a complex study design. The goal of the overall study was to evaluate MCA training, implementation context and outcome, patient outcomes, and effects on interprofessional collaboration. To capture the perspectives of those involved (patient, family caregiver, and healthcare professional) and evaluate different intervention components (milestone conversation, follow-up, training, and implementation) at different stages (development, implementation, and evaluation), a multiphase mixed-methods design was chosen [23]. For the present study, the data to answer the research questions were derived from three selected quantitative and qualitative methods: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial, a semi-structured interview study, and a content analysis of patient records.

A pragmatic epistemological stance guided the study. In pragmatism, the focus is on the consequences of research. The research is oriented towards what works in real-world practice [16]. This report follows the criteria of the Good Reporting of A Mixed Methods Study [26].

The study was conducted at the Department of Thoracic Oncology, University Hospital Heidelberg, a comprehensive cancer center and one of the largest lung cancer centers in Germany.

Recruitment and sampling

From May 2018 to January 2020, a study nurse invited patients in the Department for Outpatient Oncology Services to participate. The recruited participants served for quantitative and qualitative data collection. The inclusion criteria for all participants were 18 years or older, recently diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer (stage IV) and having an acceptable command of German. All participants gave written informed consent. The study received an ethical clearing by the responsible Ethics Committee for Phase 1 (No. S-139/2017 on May 30th 2017) and Phase 2 and 3 (No. S- 561/2017 on 29th November 2017).

Data collection

Raw data of the randomized controlled trial, the content analysis of patient records and the qualitative interviews were provided within the study group (KK and JB).

Randomized controlled trial

The primary outcome of the study was the dimension Health System and Information Needs of the Short Form Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS-SF34-G) measured 3 months after inclusion in the study. Compared were patients receiving MCA and patients receiving standard oncological care. Secondary outcomes included other physical and psychological supportive care needs (SCNS-SF34-G), quality of life (Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life (SEIQoL) and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Lung module (FACT-L)), distress (Distress-Thermometer (DT)), and depression and anxiety (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4)). Participating patients were asked to fill in questionnaires at the time of inclusion (baseline, t0), after 3 (t1), 6 (t2), and 9 months (t3). Descriptive raw data sheets and tables were provided.

Content analysis of patient records

Partly standardized routine records were used for MCs and follow-up documentation and collected by the nurse navigators of MCA. All topics addressed by patients, physicians, and nurses were documented in free text. For analysis, contents of the patient record were analyzed using qualitatively developed checklists for MCs and follow-up calls. Written descriptive data was provided.

Semi-structured interviews

The face-to-face interviews were conducted additionally to a regular appointment at the clinic, in a quiet room at the outpatient department. A semi-structured interview guide was developed, tested, and used for patients and caregivers. The interview guide comprised open-ended questions to elicit information on experiences with the MCA. All interviews were recorded digitally and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were compared with the digital recordings to correct any inaccuracies. All interview transcripts were provided. Table 2 shows the aim, dimension, data source, data collection, and collection period of each method.

Table 2 Quantitative and qualitative methods used for data integration
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Data analysis

In mixed-methods research, data integration can be understood as an approach that merges, connects, or embeds qualitative and quantitative procedures [18]. Data integration was performed by AS (first author), a health care researcher and nurse, together with MV, an oncologist, ND, a psychologist, and LU, a sociologist.

For the present study, the existing interview transcripts were first analyzed according to thematic analysis. The categories (themes or patterns) were identified using an inductive approach on a semantic level. The data analysis was guided in a recursive process through six phases: (1) familiarizing with the data, (2) generating initial codes, (3) searching for categories, (4) reviewing categories, (5) defining and naming categories (6) reporting the categories [27].

Then for data integration, the pillar integration process was used—a systematic technique to guide data integration in four stages: (1) listing descriptive values and coded data the researchers consider important, (2) matching content that relates to initial data horizontally, (3) checking for completeness to ensure matching, and (4) pillar building by comparing and contrasting the findings and conceptualizing insights [18]. In the first stage, the listing of the descriptive values and codes was selective, including only particular data that warranted further investigation. In the second stage, similar descriptive values and codes were matched and compared by aligning, refining, and organizing categories. In the third stage, all data was cross-checked to ensure accuracy and appropriateness of the matching. In the fourth stage, insights were conceptualized by building inferences about identified patterns or themes and possible explanations [18]. Based on the descriptive values and the inductive codes quantitative and qualitative categories were derived and used for listing, matching, checking, and pillar-building to answer the research questions.

Results

Two pillar themes emerged from comparing and contrasting the raw qualitative and quantitative data: (1) “approaching prognosis and advance care planning”, (2) “living with a life-threatening illness.” All quotes have been directly translated from German by the authors.

Approaching prognosis and advance care planning

The qualitative interviews with patients and caregivers revealed that, in milestone conversations, prognosis and advance care planning seemed to be offered but patients’ reactions were diverse: from asking for explicit information to not wanting information, a desire for optimistic information, not wanting to be reminded about having a mortal disease, changes in processing information and readiness for information (see Table 3).

Table 3 Results on facilitation of prognostic awareness
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Several patients reported they were offered information on prognosis but some declined:

“The length of the remaining period of life, one doesn´t want to know and this was respected in the conversation – the nurse and doctor in the conversation were very considerate.” (Patient 10)

This quote indicates that the conversation content was adapted to the patient’s wishes. Another patient explained:

“I know that I won´t regain my health 100%, but I would like that they say `you will be fine without chemotherapy, you can go to work and you will statistically live a little longer`. Do you know what I mean?” (Patient 8)

This quote indicates that, instead of realistic communication of limited prognosis including incurability, limited prognosis, and deterioration of advanced lung cancer, Patient 8 wished for an optimistic stance. Also, other patients reported not wanting to be reminded that they are terminally ill. To cope with everyday life and the situation in general, it might be easier for some patients to ignore or deny the terminal nature of the disease.

Some patients reported forgetting conversation contents and attribute that forgetfulness to a change of their cognitive functioning in these conversations:

“I think my brain turned off.” (Patient 6)

An impaired cognitive functioning might contribute to an inaccurate prognostic awareness. Several patients revealed feeling supported and not left alone through the MCA care they received. This effect was seen in one patient who reported that she agreed finally to advanced care planning after declining several times. She changed her mind because she did not want to burden her relatives with upcoming decisions.

Some patients have to deal with having advanced lung cancer while nonetheless feeling healthy and seem not to be ready for prognostic information.

“Yes, I had my scan [computed tomography] the day before yesterday. And now I just had the consultation about the results. And I am not dissatisfied and I feel fine … I don´t feel sick.” (Patient 10)

It is likely that, as long as patients do not yet perceive cancer symptoms, they are less willing to talk about prognosis and undertake advance care planning.

The interviews suggest that only a sub-group of patients appreciate discussing prognosis:

“Well, I resigned to the fact that it is lethal, that it is incurable. Therefore, I came to hospice care because I would like to die in peace.” (Patient 6)

“Yes, they told me everything that will happen. They did not sugar-coat anything about what I have to expect. And when I asked: “Oh dear, how long will the whole treatment go on?” And I liked that they openly talked to me and did not conceal anything.” (Patient 5)

Certainly, communication with patients appreciating prognostic information is easier for health care professionals than that with patients declining it.

Living with a life-threatening illness

The interview analysis revealed several aspects that made the existential meaning of living with lung cancer clearer. It seems that living with a life-threatening illness such as lung cancer remains difficult. Patients reported struggling every day to stay positive, to live normally, and to have hope. One patient said:

“I have a positive attitude towards my illness, I don´t see it negatively.” (Patient 1)

It appears that trying to stay positive helps patients to get on with their everyday lives. Also, patients seek to live normally, meet family and friends and engage in everyday life:

“Sometimes I feel like not wishing to talk about my illness. Normal life is much more important to me.” (Patient 2)

The quote shows that it might be easier for patients to live normal lives if they are not persistently thinking or talking about their disease.

Patients’ hopes include protracting the disease, diminishing the tumor, and living longer. But these hopes are repeatedly disappointed, e.g., if the straining therapy did not succeed in the way the patient anticipated:

“Because I really thought: they give me that [the chemotherapy] and then everything [the tumor] goes away. But obviously it doesn´t work that way.” (Patient 10)

All patients, regardless of whether they were in the control or intervention group, possibly struggle with establishing their quality of life, reducing distress, and remaining in a good mood (see Table 4). This struggle might interfere with measuring these variables as outcomes for a communication intervention.

Table 4 Results on influencing, measuring, and perceiving a life-threatening illness
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Discussion

Two pillar themes emerged from the data: (1) “approaching prognosis and advance care planning” and (2) “living with a life-threatening illness.” Discussions about prognosis and advance care planning have possibly been offered more often than they were documented, and an explanation for not discussing prognosis and advance care planning of some patients derived from the diverse patient reactions: not wanting information, a desire for optimistic information, not being reminded about having a mortal disease, changes in processing information, and readiness for information. In other countries, there also seems to be a subset of patients not wishing to discuss prognosis, a decline in health, or their future [28,29,30,31]. All patients seemed to struggle to preserve their quality of life, be optimistic and keep distress under control.

Healthcare professionals have to adapt to the diverse reactions of patients and their readiness to engage in the advance care planning process, and additionally to patients’ preferences, knowledge, and health literacies [32]. For clinicians confronted with patients who are clinically declining and ambivalent or renunciative towards prognostic information, the recommended communication strategy is to “name the dilemma” [9]. This approach enables clinicians to be empathic toward the patient but also addresses the disadvantages of declining information [9].

The interviews indicate that patients tried to proceed with their social life as normally as possible [33] even when their situation was deteriorating. Patients with a life-limiting illness are struggling to live in the present while facing death [34, 35]. Not fighting to stay alive or not focusing on normality seems to be morally not allowed [34]. Our findings, as those of Horne et al. (2012), suggest that patients facing death possibly only talk about what they can live with, handle, or make sense of [34]. Therefore, supporting patients in comprehensibility, meaningfulness, and manageability of lung cancer might be the key to catering for the advance care planning process [20].

From the health professionals’ perspectives, an accurate understanding of the significance of advanced disease and the goals of treatment are essential [36]. These needs can be achieved by enhancing prognostic awareness in patients. Patients declining to talk about prognosis are challenging for health care professionals for four reasons: (1) ignorance of limited prognosis hinders decision-making, notably shared decision-making [37], (2) it hinders timely referral to palliative care services and advance care planning as recommended by oncological societies [38, 39], (3) patients preferring to ignore incurability evoke in other professionals not involved in the discussions an impression of insufficient serious illness conversations, (4) the pressure of patients expressing unrealistic wishes or even demanding unrealistic treatment options is stressful for health care professionals. An ethical dilemma arises for the physician: if the physician decides to follow the principle of non-maleficence, stopping tumor treatment when harm becomes greater than benefit, it interferes with the principle of the autonomy of patients wishing for more aggressive treatment [37, 40]. Whatever the decision, it leaves physicians burdened with impairing a principle [40]. Also, patients declining to talk about prognostic information and preferring to ignore the life-limitation of the illness are possibly more often seen by physicians working in oncology [41]. Possibly these patients never, or at a very late stage, accept palliative care.

Patient-centered communication includes assessing and respecting patients’ fluctuations in prognostic awareness [9] and adapting communication on prognosis accordingly. Other research has also shown that patients prefer prognostic information disclosure on their own terms, to the degree they want [32, 42]. Appraising a patient’s degree of prognostic awareness is demanding for clinicians since it implies balancing honest prognosis communication without overwhelming the patient (with the amount of (unwanted) information). At the same time, clinicians have to ensure they do not communicate in deliberate vagueness [42]. These aspects are subtle and complex and should be documented. In healthcare, these conversations are inconsistently documented by healthcare professionals in routine patient records [43].

Conclusion

The theoretical assumptions on communication with patients with limited prognosis may need to be reconsidered. There is an assumption that informing the patient on incurability (by using adequate communication techniques) leads to the patient linearly knowing, understanding, and acknowledging the life-limiting character of the disease. In medicine, treatment choices are not linear; they are complex, uncertain, and emotionally laden, especially in advanced cancer care [10]. Communication with patients with limited prognosis must adjust to patients’ preferences and the influence of patients’ functions, cultures, families, resources, and burden change over time [10]. Systematic explanations of serious illness conversations and patient behavior and the interrelations between concepts and definitions require further definitions and theoretical assumptions on patients’ hearing, understanding, acknowledging, and acting on a disease with a limited prognosis. In summary, further investigations are needed of the relationship between communication, information preferences, and patient-relevant outcomes.

Strengths and limitations

Our findings contribute to the ongoing debate on how to confront patients with prognostic information. The findings on communication also reflect the ethical attitudes and values of the patients and clinicians. The integration of quantitative and qualitative methods was helpful in evaluating MCA from different perspectives and in gaining more differentiated insights on how results from MCA evaluation can be interpreted. However, mixing methods cause a higher workload. The study was performed at one outpatient department of a single academic comprehensive cancer center. The findings may not be representative of patients from other departments, with other diseases and cultural backgrounds. The raw data are from mixed quantitative and qualitative research, resulting in a reduction of information. More comprehensive information (e.g., purposive qualitative sampling, RCT blinding) would reveal more conclusive or diverging findings.