Table 1 Background characteristics of participants

M (SD)

Age

57.92 (7.40) (Range 46–70)

N (%)

Marital status

Married (including registered partnership)

7 (50.0)

Single (including divorced, widowed, unmarried)

7 (50.0)

Highest Education

Low (primary education or less)

-

Intermediate-1 (lower education)

5 (35.7)

Intermediate-2 (upper secondary)

2 (14.3)

High (tertiary)

7 (50.0)

Occupation

Paid job

-

Disabled / Sick leave

11 (78.6)

Housewife

-

Retired

2 (14.3)

Voluntary work

1 (7.1)

Cultural background

Dutch

13 (92.9)

Western immigrant

-

Non-Western immigrant

1 (7.1)

Treatments currently receiving^a

Chemotherapy

2 (14.3)

Radiotherapy

-

Hormone therapy

1 (7.1)

Immunotherapy

9 (64.3)

Operation

3 (21.4)

Symptom-oriented treatment (e.g. bone strengthening & rehabilitation)

2 (14.3)

Tumor-oriented treatment possible, but refrained from

4 (28.5)

Tumor-oriented treatment impossible

1 (7.1)

Oncologists

Total (N = 10)

M (SD)

Age

48.50 (7.34) (Range 37–59)

N (%)

Sex

Male

4 (40)

Female

6 (60)

Setting

Academic

2 (20)

Peripheral

6 (60)

Specialized cancer hospital

2 (20)

Experience

 < 5 years

2 (20)

5 – 10 years

2 (20)

 > 10 years

6 (60)

Self-perceived confidence to discuss treatment aims

Not at all

-

Moderate

-

Fairly

1 (10)

Very

9 (90)

Self-perceived confidence to discuss treatment options

Not at all

-

Moderate

-

Fairly

1 (10)

Very

9 (90)

Self-perceived confidence to discuss benefits/side effects

Not at all

-

Moderate

-

Fairly

2 (20)

Very

8 (80)