Enhancing Involvement in Treatment Decision Making by Women With Breast Cancer
Abstract
Women with breast cancer desire more information about their disease, in part, to be involved in making treatment decisions (TDs). Patient involvement responds to patients' desires for autonomy and addresses ethical concerns about rights to make TDs. However, several researchers have reported that patients' actual experiences in TDM did not match their preferences. The study objectives are to 1) understand the meaning of involvement in TDM from the perspectives of women with early stage breast cancer (ESBO); 2) identify stages or steps of TDM used by women and their physicians during the treatment consultation(s); and 3) identify the behaviors of women and physicians that facilitate or impede women's involvement in TDM. A qualitative approach with interviews and video-stimulated recall is being used In Phase 1 interviews with 19 women with ESBO were held to understand the concept of involvement in TDM. In Phase 2, consultations of a second group of 20 women are being digitally videotaped. Subsequently, women and their physicians (separately) view their consultation to identify any behaviors that facilitated or inhibited involvement in TDM. All interviews were taped, transcribed verbatim and analyzed Phase 1: Most women wanted high quality information soon after diagnosis but many felt isolated and uninformed until the surgical or even the medical oncology visit Most women thought they were heavily involved in a TDM process before, during and after the consultation The results of the Phase 2 pilot testing indicated that videotaping the consultation was feasible The information from this study will be useful to patients and physicians for promoting patient involvement It can be used to develop and evaluate training programs for both physicians and patients to involve patients with cancer in decisions about their care
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA458485
Entities
People
- Amiram Gafni
- Cathy Charles
- Mary Ann O'brien
- Peter Ellis
- Timothy Whelan
Organizations
- McMaster University