Health-related quality of life, fatigue, and depression under low-dose IFN-α therapy in melanoma patients.

Adjuvant melanoma treatment with interferon-α (IFN-α) has proven to be accompanied by several side effects and to decrease patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL), fatigue and depression being essential factors at that. Although a large body of evidence exists for HRQOL under IFN-α therapy, we now specifically address this topic combining the HRQOL survey in the first months of IFN-α low-dose treatment with a structured assessment of relevant neuropsychiatric side effects, fatigue and depression, with specific validated assessment tools. The present study is a longitudinal observational study assessing fatigue, depression, and HRQOL with specific assessment tools at 3 assessment points over 6 months.

Shared decision making in dermato-oncology: preference for involvement of melanoma patients.

Increasing importance is being conferred to the implementation of shared decision making (SDM) in clinical practice for medical, ethical, and sociological reasons. In Germany, SDM has recently been adopted as an explicit goal in the S3-melanoma treatment guideline. The aim of this study is to present data on how melanoma patients want to be involved in treatment decisions and second on the dynamic of these preferences for involvement.

Self-efficacy for coping with cancer in melanoma patients: its association with physical fatigue and depression.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of self-efficacy for coping with cancer (SECC) on physical fatigue and depressive symptoms in melanoma patients, in comparison with objective factors, such as treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-α) and medical and sociodemographic variables. Current literature shows that psychological distress in melanoma patients is generally moderate, that they experience high quality of life, and that symptoms of depression and fatigue have been mostly associated with adjuvant IFN-α treatment

Methods: A total of 175 melanoma patients, stages Ib-IIIc with and without low-dose IFN-α therapy, completed surveys on SECC, depression, and fatigue. Two hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to explore the predictive role of objective factors (first step: tumor stage, time since diagnosis, and current IFN-α treatment; second step: age and gender) in conjunction with the subjective factor of SECC (third step) on physical fatigue and depression.

How does a German audience appraise an American decision aid on early stage breast cancer?

Objective: To investigate how a German audience appraises an American video-based decision aid on early stage breast cancer for potential use in Germany.

Methods: A German synchronized voice-over version was produced and subject to different focus groups with patients (n=9), health care providers (n=7) and German health care experts (n=15) using an individual questionnaire-based evaluation and a moderated group discussion. Research questions included a general appraisal of the decision aid and the exploration of adaptation needs for use in Germany.