Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Asia: Physician and Patient Perspectives on Surveillance, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Issued Date
2024-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
19416628
eISSN
19416636
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85198336526
Journal Title
Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer (2024)
Suggested Citation
Mohamed R., Wang W., Tanwandee T., Hasan I., Pham C.P., Lim Y.S., Lu S.N., Munisamy M., Tran T.T.H., Ratnawati E., Sukeepaisarnjaroen W., Karababa M., Tan C.K. Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Asia: Physician and Patient Perspectives on Surveillance, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer (2024). doi:10.1007/s12029-024-01089-5 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/99745
Title
Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Asia: Physician and Patient Perspectives on Surveillance, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Author's Affiliation
Siriraj Hospital
Sunway University
Hanoi Medical University
Universitas Indonesia
Asan Medical Center
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Universiti Malaya
Srinagarind Hospital
Singapore General Hospital
COR2ED
Indonesian Cancer Information and Support Center (CISC)
Liver Disease Prevention and Treatment Research Foundation
Sunway University
Hanoi Medical University
Universitas Indonesia
Asan Medical Center
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Universiti Malaya
Srinagarind Hospital
Singapore General Hospital
COR2ED
Indonesian Cancer Information and Support Center (CISC)
Liver Disease Prevention and Treatment Research Foundation
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Purpose: In several Asian countries, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer deaths. HCC risk factors in Asia differ from those elsewhere and are changing with the treatment landscape as systemic treatment options increase. This study was conducted to gain insight from physicians and patients into HCC screening, diagnosis, and treatment strategies in Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Methods: Two cross-sectional, anonymized, online surveys were completed between July and December 2022 by physicians diagnosing and treating HCC (55 questions on risk factors, surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment) and patients ≥ 18 years old diagnosed with HCC (36 questions on disease knowledge, quality of life, and experiences of diagnosis and treatment). Results: Responses were received from 276 physicians in all 7 countries and 130 patients in Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam. From the physician’s perspective, surveillance programs are widespread but identify insufficient HCC cases; only 18% are early-stage HCC at diagnosis. From the patient’s perspective, knowledge of risk factors increases after diagnosis, but few seek support from patient associations; patients would benefit from better communication from their doctors. Treatment affordability and side effects are key issues for patients. Conclusions: Awareness of the risk factors for HCC should be raised in primary care and the general population, and surveillance should identify early-stage HCC. Because patients rely on their doctors for support, doctors should better understand their patients’ needs, and patients could be supported by trained nurses or case managers. Programs are needed to increase patients’ access to proven HCC treatments.