Perception of curability in an international cohort of advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care.

5 Background: There is limited data on the illness understanding and perception of cure among advanced cancer patients (ACP) receiving palliative care around the world. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency and factors associated with perception of curability in countries in North and South Americas , Europe, Asia and Africa. Methods: Secondary analysis of a study to determine the decisional control preferences in different countries. ACP receiving palliative care were surveyed to assess the patients’ Understanding of Illness using a Understanding Of Illness questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: A total 1390 ACPs were evaluated. The median age was 58, 55% were female, 59% were married, 47% were catholic, 36.2% were educated college or higher degree. 681/1390 (49%) reported that their cancer is curable, 60% felt perceived that the goals of therapy was “to get rid of their cancer,” 79% perceived that the goals of the therapy was to “mak...