EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF SWISS PATIENTS WITH HEMATOLOGICAL DISEASES: FOCUS ON KNOWLEDGE REGARDING HEMATOLOGY LABORATORY RESULTS AND BIOMEDICAL CONCEPTS

C. Dedieu, H. Chanvrier, and F. Solly equally contributing author.

Introduction: Patients with hematological diseases, including blood cancers such as lymphoma or myeloma, often face significant difficulties in navigating health information about their illness due to the complexity of these conditions.

One of the self-reported educational needs of patients with hematological cancer is receiving clear and comprehensive information about laboratory results. Although these patients often undergo procedures such as venipuncture, knowledge gaps regarding laboratory results and biological concepts have been highlighted.

However, repeated procedures in combination with knowledge gaps and lack of information tailoring regarding laboratory results can decrease patient adherence and increase anxiety.

Our aim is to assess hematology patients’ knowledge of laboratory results and biological concepts, and their educational needs (format and frequency). We are also investigating patients’ interest in a novel biomedical consultation.

Methods: This cross-sectional study is based on a digital self-reported questionnaire. Inpatients and outpatients over 18 years of age with a hematological disease and their caregivers are recruited at the Lausanne University Hospital by direct approach, flyers, patient associations or mail. The sample size of 103 was determined using Cochran’s formula, referencing a similar study. The questionnaire is divided into four sections consisting of (i) demographic information, (ii) general health literacy and disease awareness, (iii) preferences for educational interventions, and (iv) patient self-efficacy in managing laboratory results/biomedical information.

Results: Preliminary results were obtained from 36 patients between November and December 2024. The largest group of participants were aged 60–75 years (42%), followed by those aged 75 years or older (25%). Patients with lymphoma and myeloma represented 5.6% and 22% of the participants respectively. Most participants (56%) rated their knowledge of biological concepts as average or poor. Only 19% of participants reported having a good understanding of blood counts. Understanding technical language and the meaning of laboratory results for their health was challenging according to 69%. Most participants (67%) expressed a desire to receive additional information regarding their laboratory results while 50% were interested in an individual educational biomedical consultation about laboratory analyses.

Conclusion: These preliminary results provide valuable insights into patients' knowledge, unmet educational needs and preferences regarding educational formats. Recruitment is still ongoing, and we aim to present the final results at the conference. Our study will ultimately contribute to the development of an educational intervention to improve patients’ knowledge and self-management of laboratory results. Further steps will be to adapt the intervention to the characteristics of the patients to provide personalized, tailored educational support.

Keywords: Patient and Family-centered Care

Potential sources of conflict of interest:

M. Eicher

Consultant or advisory role: ME's institution received payment by Roche for her activities in an advisory board

Other remuneration: ME’s institution received payment for presentation and lectures given by her from Roche, BMS and Vifor