Presentation 1:
Overview of the APPROACH study & The association of self-blame with treatment preferences by Professor Eric Finkelstein

APPROACH is a cross-sectional survey of advanced cancer patients in 13 sites and 10 countries in Asia aiming to understand cancer patients’ perspectives on end-of-life care and treatments. 
Over 40% of patients reported self-blame.  Self-blame was not significantly associated with participants’ stated preference for life-extension.  Patients who reported characterological self-blame were more likely to use pain medication. Therefore, developing of interventions aimed at reducing characterological self-blame might help patients receive only appropriate treatments as opposed to treatments pursued in response to feelings of self-blame.  
Advanced Cancer Patients’ Prognostic Awareness and its Association with Anxiety, Depression and Spiritual Well-being & Roles in Treatment Decision Making Among Advanced Cancer Patients by Asst Professor Semra Ozdemir

Patients with accurate prognostic awareness reported higher anxiety, higher depressive symptoms and lower spiritual well-being scores compared to those with inaccurate prognostic awareness. However, higher levels of acceptance of illness moderated these associations.  
The most commonly reported role was no involvement in decision making, followed by making decisions together with family and/or physician. Male patients, those from majority ethnic groups, those with higher education, those who were aware of being diagnosed with advanced cancer and those who reported coping well with their cancer were more likely to be actively involved in decision making.

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