Information behaviour and decision-making in patients during their cancer journey

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 494-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shih-Chuan Chen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Alternative Therapy ◽  
Treatment Decision ◽  
Treatment Method ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Behaviour ◽  
Treatment Decision Making

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the effect of cancer patients’ information behaviour on their decision-making at the diagnosis and treatment stages of their cancer journey. Patients’ information sources and their decision-making approaches were analyzed. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants. Findings The cancer patients sought information from various sources in choosing a hospital, physician, treatment method, diet and alternative therapy. Physicians were the primary information source. The patients’ approaches to treatment decision-making were diverse. An informed approach was adopted by nine patients, a paternalistic approach by four and a shared decision-making approach by only two. Practical implications In practice, the findings may assist hospitals and medical professionals in fostering pertinent interactions with patients. Originality/value The findings can enhance researcher understanding regarding the effect of cancer patients’ information behaviour on their decision-making.

Breast cancer patients' personality style, age, and treatment decision making

1996 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie D. Johnson ◽  
Cleora S. Roberts ◽  
Charles E. Cox ◽  
Douglas S. Reintgen ◽  
Judi S. Levine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Treatment Decision ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Personality Style ◽  
Treatment Decision Making

Treatment decision-making for older adults with cancer: A qualitative study

2020 ◽  
pp. 096973302094575
Author(s):  
Ni Gong ◽  
Qianqian Du ◽  
Hongyu Lou ◽  
Yiheng Zhang ◽  
Hengying Fang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Treatment Decision ◽  
Chinese Society ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Treatment Decision Making ◽  
The Family ◽  
Older Cancer Patients

Background: Independent decision-making is one of the basic rights of patients. However, in clinical practice, most older cancer patients’ treatment decisions are made by family members. Objective: This study attempted to analyze the treatment decision-making process and formation mechanism for older cancer patients within the special cultural context of Chinese medical practice. Method: A qualitative study was conducted. With the sample saturation principle, data collected by in-depth interviews with 17 family members and 12 patients were subjected to thematic analysis. Ethical considerations: The study was approved by the ethics committees of Sun Yat-sen University. All participants provided verbal informed consent after being told their rights of confidentiality, anonymity, and voluntary participation. They had the right to refuse to answer questions and could withdraw at any time. Results: Three themes emerged: (1) complex process; (2) transformation of family decision-making power; and (3) individual compromise. Family members inevitably had different opinions during the long process of treatment decision-making for older cancer patients. The direction of this process could be regarded as an extension of the family power relationship. The patient usually compromised the decision to survive, which was made by family members. Conclusion: This study describes the treatment decision-making process of older cancer patients in the context of Chinese culture. The reasons underlying this process are related to the views on life and death and family values. An individual is a part of the family, which is often seen as the minimal interpersonal unit in Chinese society. It is significant that while emphasizing patient autonomy in the decision-making process, health professionals should also pay attention to the important roles of culture and family.

The impact of “significant others” on breast cancer patients’ treatment decision making.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (34_suppl) ◽  
pp. 20-20
Author(s):  
Suepattra G. May ◽  
Katharine Rendle ◽  
Meghan Halley ◽  
Nicole Ventre ◽  
Allison W. Kurian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Medical Decision Making ◽  
Treatment Decision ◽  
Significant Others ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Treatment Decision Making ◽  
The Impact

20 Background: Shared medical decision making (SDM) has been lauded by advocates for its potential to democratize the patient-physician relationship. However, the practice of SDM is still conceived of as largely a dyadic moment that exists between the patient and the physician. Few studies have looked at the role of significant others (spouses, partners, family members and friends) in decision making or considered how discussions and actions outside the consultation room affect a patient’s medical decisions. This prospective study investigated the impact of significant others on the decision making deliberations of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Methods: Forty-one newly diagnosed breast cancer patients were interviewed at four critical time points throughout treatment to explore how they deliberated decisions with both care providers and significant others. Surveys assessing HRQOL, role preferences and treatment satisfaction along with EHR abstraction augmented interview data. Grounded theory analysis was used to identify recurrent themes in the qualitative data, and survey data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 20. Results: Emergent themes from our analysis identified several factors that patients consider when faced with cancer treatment decisions, including 1) presentation of treatment options 2) patient or significant other conflict/concordance with care team recommendations 3) perceived risk of recurrence and 4) short and long term impact of treatment on daily life. Participants stressed the need for clinicians to view patients beyond diagnosis and recognize their larger care network as influential factors in their decision making. Conclusions: Our interviews highlight how the current healthcare delivery structure rarely acknowledges the circles of care that can exert influence on decision making. Lack of attention to non-clinical others can lead to sub-optimal medical decision making because these influences are not adequately understood by clinicians. Findings from this study suggest the need to enhance clinicians’ and researchers’ understanding of the influence of others in patients’ treatment decision making, enabling them to intervene in these practices.

Distress among Prostate Cancer Patients and Spouses is Associated with Hormone Treatment and Participation in Decision-Making

2007 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 117955490700100
Author(s):  
E.K. Salminen ◽  
R. Portin ◽  
M.J. Nurmi
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Treatment Decision ◽  
Hormone Treatment ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Treatment Decision Making ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
Cancer Experience

Background The aim of this study was to chart cancer experience and distress shared between prostate cancer (PC) patients and their spouses, focusing on effects of hormone treatment and treatment decision-making. Patients and methods This observational prospective study involved 203 PC patients and 194 spouses surveyed within 5 years from being diagnosed with PC. Fifty percent of the patients had received hormone treatment. Results Younger (<65 years) patients and spouses were significantly more distressed than the older. Patients receiving hormone treatment tended to be more distressed than those not treated (sum of scores, 5.6 vs 4.3, p = 0.017), and the same trend was seen in their spouses (p = 0.08). The spouse experienced difficulties in concentration and decision-making (Chi-squared test, p = 0.012) and somatic symptoms (p = 0.049) more often if the patient suffered the same problems. Use of alcohol/drugs was significantly more common among younger (<65 years) spouses (27.8% vs 7.2%, p < 0.001) and in those with higher level of education (26.1% vs 12.2%, p = 0.015). Conclusions Significant associations were observed in distress variables between prostate cancer patients and spouses, especially among younger patients and when hormone treatment was used. Distress among patients was associated with participation in treatment-decision making, and among spouses with age and educational level.

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