Carolyn Lefkowits, MD, MPH, MS, assistant professor, University of Colorado Denver, discusses concerns women with gynecologic cancer have regarding their prognosis. 

In a qualitative study in which patients and providers were interviewed about supportive and palliative care, Lefkowits and her team found that patients had a number of items they wanted to discuss about their prognosis, and questions stemmed far from the typical question of, “Will this disease kill me?” 

Women wanted honest discussions about not only their life expectancy, but also the side effects of their treatment, what their future holds, what remission will be like and if they can expect the disease to come back.

Articles

Carolyn Lefkowits on Concerns of Women With Gynecologic Cancers

Carolyn Lefkowits, MD, MPH, MS, assistant professor, University of Colorado Denver, discusses the role of non-physician providers in gynecologic oncology. 

In a qualitative study where she interviewed patients and providers about supportive and palliative care, Lefkowits found that women want honest communication about what the future might hold. 

The study also found that patients often direct their questions to the non-physician providers nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians assistants which Lefkowits thinks is becauseÂ patients spend more time with those providers than the physician.

Lefkowits says that there is an educational opportunity to teach all provider groups the skills sets necessary to have these conversations with patients. 

Carolyn Lefkowits, MD, MPH, MS, assistant professor, University of Colorado Denver, discusses the role of non-physician providers in gynecologic oncology.Â 

Carolyn Lefkowits on Non-Physician Providers in Gynecologic Oncology

Carolyn Lefkowits, MD, MPH, MS, assistant professor, University of Colorado Denver, discusses patients' needs for palliative care in gynecologic oncology.Â 

Lefkowits andÂ a team of researchers conducted a qualitative study where they interviewed patients and gynecologic oncology providers â€” physicians, physicians assistants, nurses, and nurse practitioners â€” about supportive and palliative care in their specialty. The study aimed to identify whether or not the needs of the gynecologic oncology population were being met.Â 

The study found that women want to talk about their prognosis in terms of life expectancy,Â quality of life, fertility, and possibility of remission. While providers recognize these concerns, they reported finding it difficult to initiate and navigate these conversations with patients. Women said that they would prefer â€œhonest information and frank communication,â€ according to Lefkowits. Â 

Carolyn Lefkowits, MD, MPH, MS

Articles

Carolyn Lefkowits on Concerns of Women With Gynecologic Cancers

Carolyn Lefkowits on Non-Physician Providers in Gynecologic Oncology

Carolyn Lefkowits on Needs for Palliative Care in Gynecologic Oncology