Exploring cancer treatment decision-making by patients: a descriptive study

[摘要] ObjectiveUsing an interview-guided survey, our descriptive study aimed to document the extent to which can­cer patients perceive they are involved in making treatment decisions and the factors that influence patient involvement. Patients and methodsOur study enrolled patients from a Canadian ambu­latory oncology program who were undergoing che­motherapy or radiation therapy, or both, for cancer. The adapted Control Preferences Scale was used to survey perceived and preferred roles in decision-making. The study survey also included items from the Decisional Conflict Scale and the Preparation for Decision-Making Scale. ResultsOf 192 participants, 98 (51%) perceived that they were offered treatment choices. Of those 98, 47 (48%) thought that the options were presented equally. Compared with the patients not offered choices, those who were given choices were less passive (4% vs. 29%,p p ConclusionsOnly half of surveyed patients thought that they were offered choices for their cancer treatment. When of­fered choices, patients were more active in decision-making. Further initiatives are required to determine approaches for supporting patients with cancer so that they can be more involved in decision-making.

[学科分类] 肿瘤学