Table 3 Clinical characteristics (N = 487)
Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
Diagnosed indication a, n (%) | |
 Cancer | 183 (38) |
  Higher mortality cancers | 87 |
  Lung cancer | 22 (12) |
  Colorectal cancer | 12 (7) |
  Liver cancer | 12 (7) |
  Stomach cancer | 3 (2) |
  Ovarian cancer | 22 (12) |
  Multiple myeloma | 6 (3) |
  Leukemia or another blood-related cancer | 15 (8) |
 Lower mortality cancers | 96 |
  Breast cancer | 39 (21) |
  Melanoma / skin cancer | 23 (13) |
  Prostate cancer | 32 (17) |
  Thyroid cancer | 9 (5) |
 Heart disease | 122 (25) |
 Migraine | 178 (37) |
 Multiple sclerosis | 51 (10) |
 Rheumatoid arthritis | 134 (28) |
 Anemia | 93 (19) |
 Anxiety | 111 (23) |
 Depression | 106 (22) |
 Diabetes (Type I or Type II) | 106 (22) |
Number of medical conditions b, n (%) | |
 1 | 200 (41) |
 2 | 115 (24) |
  ≥ 3 | 172 (35) |
Number of previous lines of treatment, n (%) | |
 0 treatment | 41 (8) |
 1–2 treatments | 146 (30) |
 3–4 treatments | 132 (27) |
  ≥ 5 treatments | 168 (34) |
Treatment options are available for condition, n (%) | |
 There are not many alternative treatments available | 98 (20) |
 There are some alternative treatments available | 203 (42) |
 There are lots of alternative treatments available | 115 (24) |
 Don't know | 71 (15) |
Affordability of current medication | |
 I can easily afford my medications | 168 (34) |
 I can afford my medications | 272 (56) |
 I struggle to pay for my medications | 47 (10) |
Experience of treatment side effects, n (%) | |
 I have not experienced any side effects | 155 (32) |
 I have experienced mild side effects | 249 (51) |
 I have experienced severe side effects | 83 (17) |
Satisfaction with current disease management, n (%) | |
 Not at all satisfied | 69 (14) |
 Moderately satisfied | 263 (54) |
 Very much satisfied | 155 (32) |
Quality of Life (Classification) c | |
 0–3 | 106 (22) |
 4–7 | 128 (26) |
 8–11 | 103 (21) |
 12–15 | 87 (18) |
 16–19 | 44 (9) |
 20–24 | 19 (14) |
I feel fatigued | |
 Not at all / A little bit | 209 (43) |
 Somewhat | 129 (26) |
 Quite a bit / Very much | 149 (31) |
I have had difficulty with mobility | |
 Not at all / A little bit | 336 (69) |
 Somewhat | 84 (17) |
 Quite a bit / Very much | 67 (14) |
I have had pain or discomfort | |
 Not at all / A little bit | 244 (50) |
 Somewhat | 121 (25) |
 Quite a bit / Very much | 122 (25) |
I have been anxious or depressed | |
 Not at all / A little bit | 276 (57) |
 Somewhat | 87 (18) |
 Quite a bit / Very much | 124 (25) |
I have to limit my social activity because of my health | |
 Not at all / A little bit | 282 (58) |
 Somewhat | 98 (20) |
 Quite a bit / Very much | 107 (22) |
I have had difficulty with performing my usual activities | |
 Not at all / A little bit | 310 (64) |
 Somewhat | 107 (22) |
 Quite a bit / Very much | 70 (14) |
Self-perceived health status, n (%) | |
 Excellent or Very Good | 71 (15) |
 Good | 176 (36) |
 Fair | 190 (39) |
 Poor | 50 (10) |
Self-perceived likelihood to live to average age d, n (%) | |
 Likely / Highly likely | 261 (54) |
 Neutral | 125 (26) |
 Highly unlikely / Unlikely | 80 (16) |
 Not sure / Don't know | 21 (4) |
Self-perceived future quality of life, n (%) | |
 Much better / Somewhat better in 10 years than now | 91 (19) |
 About the same in 10 years than now | 145 (30) |
 Somewhat worse / Much worse in 10 years than now | 251 (52) |