Travel habits of patients with end-stage malignant diseases: a pilot study

Stratmann, Jan Alexander; Ballo, Olivier; Bitter, John; Heringer, Olav; Eladly, Fagr; Vischedyk, Jonas; Hornetz, Sofia; Koschade, Sebastian; Hossini, Nadija; Brandts, Christian; Serve, Hubert; Wegener, Annika; Banek, Severine; Shaid, Shabnam; Wegener, Kerstin

doi:10.30491/ijtmgh.2023.416477.1381

Travel habits of patients with end-stage malignant diseases: a pilot study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Jan Alexander Stratmann ¹

Olivier Ballo ²

John Bitter ³

Olav Heringer ⁴

Fagr Eladly ¹

Jonas Vischedyk ¹

Sofia Hornetz ⁵

Sebastian Koschade ¹

Nadija Hossini ¹

Christian Brandts ¹

Hubert Serve ¹

Annika Wegener ⁶

Severine Banek ³

Shabnam Shaid ¹

Kerstin Wegener ⁷

¹ Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany

² Goethe University Frankfurt

³ Department of Urology, University Clinic of Frankfurt, Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany

⁴ Cancer Center, Wiesbaden, Germany

⁵ Department of Pediatrics, Sana Klinikum Offenbach GmbH, Offenbach, Germany

⁶ University Cancer Center Frankfurt (UCT), University Clinic of Frankfurt, Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany

⁷ Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Business and Law, Nibelungenplatz 1, 60318 Frankfurt, Germany

10.30491/ijtmgh.2023.416477.1381

Abstract

Demographic development and continuing improvements in supportive and antineoplastic therapies are reasonable predictors of increasing travel activities carried out by patients with malignant diseases. There is a lack of data on travel habits of patients with end-stage oncological diseases. We performed a multi-phased cross-sectional study to gain insights into the intersection of travel medicine and oncology. A total of 82 patients with 21 different cancer entities at a median age of 63 years completed the final questionnaire. 90.2% of all participants rated travelling as an important or very important aspect in their lives, of whom 73.2% had participated in a short- or holiday trip after the cancer diagnosis. All but one (98.8%) participant were about to plan a short- or holiday trip in the near future. Germany (home country) was the most important travel destination, ‘Relaxing’ and ‘enjoying nature’ were the most important travel motives. Fatigue and overall (medical) insecurities were major obstacles to carry out travel plans. In conclusion, a high proportion of patients enjoy travelling. Physicians and patients are encouraged to openly discuss holiday-taking in accordance with available guidelines. More research is needed to fully understand needs and obstacles at the crossroads of travel medicine and oncology.

Keywords

Cancer

palliative care

travel medicine

pre-travel advice