Patient and caregiver awareness of pancreatic cancer treatments and clinical trials.

Abstract

The results of this study suggest that large numbers of patients and caregivers had never had discussions with physicians about pancreatic cancer treatments or clinical trials. The point about trials takes on even greater importance, considering that patients who participate in clinical trials report better outcomes than those receiving the same treatment outside of clinical trials. Increased discussions with patients could potentially increase treatment and trial participation, possibly improving patient- and caregiver-stated priorities of quality of life, extension of survival, and symptom management.