AbbVie has officially published results from its latest Emotional Impact Report (EIR), which happens to be a patient survey designed to help readers understand the mental health impacts of a chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) diagnosis.
In case you weren’t aware, CLL is one of the two most common forms of leukemia in adults. It is a type of cancer that can develop from cells in the bone marrow, later maturing into certain white blood cells (called lymphocytes).
Anyway, going by the available details, this was the first survey ever to consider the emotional perspectives of Hispanic, Black, and Asian patients with CLL, and unpack their unique experiences and challenges throughout their blood cancer journey.
More on the same would reveal how AbbVie’s research entertained responses from 232 participants, which included 131 Caucasian patients, 37 Black patients, 32 Hispanic/Latinx patients, 31 Asian patients, 2 American Indian/Alaska Native patients and 1 Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander patient.
Shared during the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, the findings revealed that, when it came to ethnically diverse patients, many strongly expressed the need for educational and emotional support resources tailored to their cultural beliefs (45% Asian; 38% Hispanic; and 24% Black) compared to only 2% of Caucasian respondents.
Furthermore, more than a third of ethnically diverse patients were found to be more comfortable interacting with HCPs who share their race/ethnicity. On top of that, it was also discovered that ethnically diverse patients are underutilizing online support groups, as very few reported using this resource to learn about CLL (19% Hispanic; 23% Asian; and 35% Black).
Next up, upon being diagnosed with a slow-growing blood cancer like CLL, respondents indicated challenges in coping with their emotional reactions and dealing with the reactions of their family members. You see, both Black/Hispanic/Asian and Caucasian patient groups felt fear (67% and 90%, respectively) and surprise (56% and 71%, respectively) as their predominant feelings.
Hispanic patients, in fact, reported that substantial hardships weigh heavily on them once diagnosed, including uncertainty about next steps (72%). To give you some context, over 30% of all Hispanic respondents claimed it a challenge to feel listened to when describing their symptoms.
Beyond that, ethnically diverse patients also have more concerns about financial challenges due to medical expenses (35% Black; 39% Asian; and 53% Hispanic) compared to Caucasian respondents (18%).
“Patients with CLL often grapple with the psychological burden of living with a slow-growing cancer, which can affect their mental health and overall well-being, regardless of their ethnic background. With the Emotional Impact Report, we wanted to lead the charge of looking at perspectives from underrepresented patients with CLL to better understand their unique needs,” said Andy Souers, Ph.D., vice president, Oncology Discovery Research, AbbVie. “To fix the challenges, you must first illuminate them. We are committed to working with the community to gain a better understanding and meet the needs of all patients with CLL.”
Another detail worth a mention is rooted in disconnect between the patient and their doctor. Basically, less than half of patients across all groups said they feel supported by their doctors in managing the emotional impact of their disease (29% Asian; 30% Black; 33% Caucasian; and 38% Hispanic).
Talk about ethnically diverse patients, 30% desire more time during check-ins to discuss their emotional and mental health. In regards to setting their goals, though, only half of Black patients feel they collaborate effectively with their HCPs. For instance, this metric had Hispanic and Asian patients at 38% and 35%, respectively.
From an overarching perspective, on-treatment patients have a less positive perception of their treatment experience compared to off-treatment patients.
“Having someone to talk to about their treatment goals and emotional needs is crucial for patients with CLL,” said Brian Koffman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of the CLL Society. “It provides them with a sense of support and understanding, which is vital in helping them navigate the emotional complexities of their diagnosis and treatment. Knowing they are not alone can help empower them to face their journey with greater resilience and hope.”
