TY - JOUR
T1 - A 10-Year Cross-Sectional Analysis of Public, Oncologist, and Patient Attitudes About Lung Cancer and Associated Stigma
AU - Rigney, Maureen
AU - Rapsomaniki, Eleni
AU - Carter-Harris, Lisa
AU - King, Jennifer C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
PY - 2021/1
Y1 - 2021/1
N2 - Introduction: Lung cancer stigma negatively impacts the clinical care and outcomes of those diagnosed, resulting in enduring disparities. The objective of this study was to determine whether attitudes toward lung cancer and the stigmatization of people diagnosed have changed over a decade. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to the general public, oncologists, and people with lung cancer 10 years apart (2008 and 2018) using the same instrument and methodology. The measures of stigma agreement ratings on a five-point Likert scale were compared between 2008 and 2018 for all three sample groups. Results: In 2018, a total of 1001 members of the general public, 205 oncologists, and 208 people with lung cancer were enrolled. Improvements were noted over the decade, including the availability of more treatment options. Greater disease awareness was also found, with 94% of the public reporting knowledge of lung cancer (versus 82.5% in 2008, p < 0.0001). However, no change was found in the percentage of the public reporting that patients with lung cancer are at least partially to blame for their illness (60.3% in 2018). In 2018, more people with lung cancer agreed there is a stigma associated with lung cancer (72.1 versus 54.5%, p < 0.001) and that those diagnosed are viewed or treated differently by society in general (69.4% versus 50.8%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results reflect recognition of treatment gains and increased visibility of lung cancer but also highlight that stigma remains a significant problem. Of critical importance to the care of those diagnosed was the unexpected increase in stigma reported by the patient population.
AB - Introduction: Lung cancer stigma negatively impacts the clinical care and outcomes of those diagnosed, resulting in enduring disparities. The objective of this study was to determine whether attitudes toward lung cancer and the stigmatization of people diagnosed have changed over a decade. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to the general public, oncologists, and people with lung cancer 10 years apart (2008 and 2018) using the same instrument and methodology. The measures of stigma agreement ratings on a five-point Likert scale were compared between 2008 and 2018 for all three sample groups. Results: In 2018, a total of 1001 members of the general public, 205 oncologists, and 208 people with lung cancer were enrolled. Improvements were noted over the decade, including the availability of more treatment options. Greater disease awareness was also found, with 94% of the public reporting knowledge of lung cancer (versus 82.5% in 2008, p < 0.0001). However, no change was found in the percentage of the public reporting that patients with lung cancer are at least partially to blame for their illness (60.3% in 2018). In 2018, more people with lung cancer agreed there is a stigma associated with lung cancer (72.1 versus 54.5%, p < 0.001) and that those diagnosed are viewed or treated differently by society in general (69.4% versus 50.8%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results reflect recognition of treatment gains and increased visibility of lung cancer but also highlight that stigma remains a significant problem. Of critical importance to the care of those diagnosed was the unexpected increase in stigma reported by the patient population.
KW - Lung cancer
KW - Quality of Life
KW - Stigma
KW - Survivorship
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85093920517&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jtho.2020.09.011
DO - 10.1016/j.jtho.2020.09.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 33011390
SN - 1556-0864
VL - 16
SP - 151
EP - 155
JO - Journal of Thoracic Oncology
JF - Journal of Thoracic Oncology
IS - 1
ER -
