Abstract PS7-91: Influence of physician’s lifestyle on the prescription of healthy habits to breast cancer patients (LACOG 1218)
Authors: Renata Cangussú, Eldsamira Mascarenhas, Taiane F Rebelatto, Paulo R Nunes, Rafaela G de Jesus, Facundo Zaffaroni, Gustavo Werutsky
Journal: Cancer Research (2021)

Abstract BACKGROUND Healthy lifestyle has been shown to have a positive impact on quality of life, risk of recurrence, and overall survival in breast cancer (BC). Physicians play an important role in encouraging their patients to lifestyle modification. Nonetheless, little is known whether physician lifestyle can impact on healthy habits recommendations to BC patients. We aimed to evaluate how physician’s lifestyle influences the prescription of healthy habits to BC patients. METHODSLACOG 1218 was an observational, cross-sectional study. An online questionnaire composed of 14 objective questions to evaluate physician lifestyle and prescription of healthy habits to BC patients was developed and circulated by e-mail to breast surgeons, clinical and radiation oncologists who were members of the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology (SBOC) and Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG) and dedicated to the treatment of BC patients. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the correlation between the physician lifestyle and the prescription of healthy habits to BC patients. A multivariate Poisson regression analysis was used to assess which factors of physician lifestyle could influence prescription of healthy habits.RESULTSA total of 267 physicians answered the questionnaire from October to November 2018. Of these, 142 (53.2%) were clinical oncologists, 116 (43.5%) were breast surgeons, and 9 (3.4%) were radiation oncologists. Female were 58.4%, 51.8% were older than 50 years and the majority 71.5% worked in private health insurance practice. In terms of physician lifestyle, 228 (85.4%) had healthy eating habits, 236 (88.4%) practiced physical activity and 93 (34.9%) were self-reported with overweight or obese. A total of 143 (46.1%) did not drink alcohol or drunk less than once a month and did not consume more than 5 doses and only 8 (3%) of them were current smoker. Overall, 84.3% of the physicians advised their BC patients on the importance of lifestyle modification. Physicians who did not exercise regularly have a higher chance of not advising for health lifestyle (HR 2.48; 95% CI 1.28 to 4.82, p=0.0265) as opposite to physicians older than 50 years (RR 0.37; CI 95% 0.15 - 0.92; p=0.0118).Obesity treatment and management was performed by 121 (45.3%) of physicians. Being a breast surgeon (RR 1.29; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.63, p=0.0025) or radiation oncologists (RR 1.82; 95% CI 1.43 to 2.31, p=0.0025) were the only factors associated with not performing obesity treatment and management. About 53.4% of physicians referred overweight or obese patients to a dietician and/or endocrinologist. Male gender (RR 1.35; CI 95% 1.03-1.76; p=0.0296), breast surgeons (RR 1.99; CI 95% 1.50-2.64; p=0.0001) and clinical practice in public health system (RR 1.53; CI 95% 1.20-1.96; p=0.0012) were factors associated with not referring patients to dietician and/or endocrinologist as opposed to physicians older than 50 years (RR 0.46; CI 95% 0.28-0.75; p=0.0005).CONCLUSIONIn general physicians treating BC patients have a healthy lifestyle. Physicians who practice physical activity regularly or older than 50 years had more chance to advise lifestyle modification. Only half of BC patients’ physicians treat obesity or refer these patients to specialist which in this case may impact BC patient’s outcome. Citation Format: Renata Cangussú, Eldsamira Mascarenhas, Taiane F Rebelatto, Paulo R Nunes, Rafaela G de Jesus, Facundo Zaffaroni, Gustavo Werutsky. Influence of physician’s lifestyle on the prescription of healthy habits to breast cancer patients (LACOG 1218) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS7-91.