Significant Increase of Patient Information and Satisfaction with Longer Initial Consultation Duration in Breast Cancer - First Results of the WAVES Study

Author(s): Nina Ditsch, Melitta B. Köpke, Renate Haidinger, Brigitte Welter, Ute-Susann Albert, Christoph Aulmann, Traudl Baumgartner, Stefanie Corradini, Christian Dannecker, Johannes Ettl, Nadia Harbeck, Carolin C. Hack, Anne Herrmann, Christian Hinske, Marion Kiechle, Alkomiet Hasan, Klaus E. Jopp, Monika Klinkhammer-Schalke, Oliver Koelbl, Christoph Jung, Olaf Ortmann, Anna Rubeck, Gernot Müller, Verena Schmid, Frank Kramer, Franziska Feiler, Eva Schildmann, Step

Aim of the study: The "WAVES" study (Widening Aims and giving patients a Voice for Expanded Structures in breast cancer care developed jointly by patients and physicians) aims to illuminate current breast cancer care structures with special focus on physician-patient-communication.

Methods: The study is conducted within and funded by the BZKF (Bavarian Center for Cancer Research). Here, we present the results of the first preplanned analysis of the survey designed together with patients and patient advocates with the aim of adequately reflecting patients concerns. It is based on the evaluation of the first 1.000 patients who participated between 05/2022 and 08/2023, focusing on the duration of the first diagnosis consultation.

Results: The participants were between 23 and 89 years old (mean: 59.18 years). There was a significant association between longer initial consultation duration and higher patient satisfaction (p < 0.001). When the first consultation lasted 30 minutes or more, patients stated more frequently that they felt better informed (p < 0.001) and had fully or substantially understood the content (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: These results demonstrate a significantly higher satisfaction and better preparation of patients with initial breast cancer diagnosis if physicians’ communication lasted 30 minutes or more. Therefore the WAVES study clearly demonstrates the need for improved communication structures in terms of an appropriate time frame for breast cancer patients, which is not reflected in the current reimbursement structures.