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GPs were not informed about the incentive trial until a thank-you letter was posted at the conclusion of the survey; all participating GPs then received $20 gift vouchers. Keywords: Randomized controlled trial as topic; General practice; Research design EN Randomized controlled trial as topic General practice Research design 585 586 2 06/21/22 20220615 NES 220615 General practitioners view health and medical research positively, but their participation in postal surveys is typically low.1 Poor response rates reduce the sample size and consequently the generalisability of survey results. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents a large-scale, population-based study in Australia which assessed the prevalence and predictors of anxiety and depression among a heterogenous sample of long-term adult cancer survivors. It outlines the instruments utilized in the study, including Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer (mini-MAC). It has found that levels of anxiety and depression were low. It has revealed that most survivors had adjusted well to their cancer treatment.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and predictors of anxiety and depression among a heterogeneous sample of long‐term adult cancer survivors. Design and participants: Cross‐sectional survey of 863 adults diagnosed with a new histologically confirmed cancer (local or metastatic) between 1 April and 30 November 1997 and still alive in 2002, living in NSW, able to read and understand English adequately, physically and mentally capable of participating, and aware of their cancer diagnosis, who were randomly selected from the New South Wales Central Cancer Registry. Main outcome measures: Prevalence of anxiety and depression assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and factors (patient, disease, and treatment characteristics; coping style; social support) predicting clinical or borderline levels of anxiety and depression. Results: Levels of anxiety and depression were low; only 9% of participants reported clinically important levels of anxiety and 4% reported depression. The strongest predictive factors of borderline or clinical anxiety were previous treatment for psychological illness, maladaptive coping styles (helplessness–hopelessness, anxious preoccupation) and poor social support. Borderline or clinical depression was most strongly predicted by previous treatment for psychological illness, being an invalid pensioner, maladaptive coping style (helplessness–hopelessness) and poor positive social interaction. Conclusions: By 5 years after diagnosis, most survivors had adjusted well to their cancer experience, with levels of anxiety and depression similar to those of the general population. Nevertheless, a small and important group of long‐term survivors continue to experience adverse psychological effects and need assistance. Monitoring of psychological wellbeing and referring patients when appropriate need to be integrated into routine care for cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Anxiety and depression among long-term survivors of cancer in Australia: results of a population-based survey," by A. W. Boyes et al, published in a 2009 supplementary issue.

Objectives: The study examined: 1) the proportion of patients who received their preferred level of information about life expectancy; and 2) sociodemographic, clinical and psychological factors associated with patients' perceptions of whether they received too little, too much, or the right amount of information about life expectancy.Design: Cross-sectional survey.Setting: Eleven large Australian medical oncology treatment centres.Participants: A total of 1431 medical oncology outpatients participated (81% consent rate). Eligible patients were approached between September 2012 and May 2014.Main Outcome Measures: Patients indicated whether the information about life expectancy they received aligned with their preferences.Results: Almost one in four patients (24%) received too little information, 4% received too much, and 50% received all the information they wanted; 22% of patients neither wanted nor received information about life expectancy. Patients were more likely to receive too little information if they were not in remission (odds ratio [OR], 1.77), did not know their cancer stage at diagnosis (OR, 3.64), or were anxious (OR, 1.48) or depressed (OR, 1.48). Patients had greater odds of receiving too much information if they were younger (OR, 1.45), had more advanced cancer (OR, 2.01) or did not know their cancer stage at diagnosis (OR, 4.42).Conclusions: That fact that 28% of cancer patients did not receive their desired level of information about life expectancy highlights the difficulties associated with discussing this sensitive topic. To ensure that life expectancy discussions correspond with patient preferences, clinicians should routinely ask patients whether they want to know this information, in what format, and at which level of detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the prevalence and predictors of anxiety and depression among a heterogeneous sample of long-term adult cancer survivors.Design and Participants: Cross-sectional survey of 863 adults diagnosed with a new histologically confirmed cancer (local or metastatic) between 1 April and 30 November 1997 and still alive in 2002, living in NSW, able to read and understand English adequately, physically and mentally capable of participating, and aware of their cancer diagnosis, who were randomly selected from the New South Wales Central Cancer Registry.Main Outcome Measures: Prevalence of anxiety and depression assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and factors (patient, disease, and treatment characteristics; coping style; social support) predicting clinical or borderline levels of anxiety and depression.Results: Levels of anxiety and depression were low; only 9% of participants reported clinically important levels of anxiety and 4% reported depression. The strongest predictive factors of borderline or clinical anxiety were previous treatment for psychological illness, maladaptive coping styles (helplessness-hopelessness, anxious preoccupation) and poor social support. Borderline or clinical depression was most strongly predicted by previous treatment for psychological illness, being an invalid pensioner, maladaptive coping style (helplessness-hopelessness) and poor positive social interaction.Conclusions: By 5 years after diagnosis, most survivors had adjusted well to their cancer experience, with levels of anxiety and depression similar to those of the general population. Nevertheless, a small and important group of long-term survivors continue to experience adverse psychological effects and need assistance. Monitoring of psychological wellbeing and referring patients when appropriate need to be integrated into routine care for cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]