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Myelofibrosis Caregiver Interview Series: Involving Patients and Caregivers in Myelofibrosis Treatment Plans

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In the next installment of the Myelofibrosis Caregiver Interview Series, Fadi Haddad, MD, emphasizes a patient- and caregiver-centered approach to treatment planning—highlighting how clinical decisions extend beyond disease factors to include patient goals, financial considerations, geographic access, and the strength of social support systems.

TRANSCRIPT

Tim F: Dr. Haddad, how do you involve your patients and their caregivers in the decision making?

Fadi Haddad, MD: I always involve both my patients and caregiver in the decision making. In fact, I dictate the treatment plan, what aligns with the patient's best interest because treating myelofibrosis is not just about prescribing a medication, it's about treating the patient as a whole with their family, their caregivers. I need to take into consideration the patient's preferences and goals. Is it improving the symptom, improving the quality of life, maybe extending survival? I need to take into account the financial situation of the patient. Some of the treatments could be very expensive. Some patients don't have access to resources. We need also to pay attention to where the patient actually lives. Myelofibrosis and its treatment dictate a lot of clinic visits, a lot of blood testing. So if a patient is living far away, I need to account that into my treatment decision. And also factor their social support, their family support.

Do they have caregivers? If we want to do a bone marrow transplant, are they able to commit? Do we have a support system that is available to help the patient through the journey? So I think all these factors are very important to take into account when formulating the final treatment plan for a patient with myelofibrosis.

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