Sharing decisions in cancer care

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Patient-centered care
• Health psychology

Background:

• Many cancer patients do not achieve desired participation in treatment decisions.
• The impact of this on patient well-being and satisfaction is not fully understood.
• Empirical evidence for the benefits of shared decision making is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of shared decision making on patient anxiety, information recall, and satisfaction.
• To assess the effect of achieving preferred roles in decision-making on patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• 233 cancer patients indicated preferred participation levels and support needs before oncologist consultation.
• Anxiety assessed pre/post-consultation and at two-weeks; recall assessed at seven days.
• Satisfaction with consultation, perceived role, information, and emotional support evaluated at two-weeks.

Main Results:

• Role mismatch (preferred vs. perceived) predicted changes in anxiety (p = 0.03).
• Perceived role, not mismatch, independently predicted satisfaction with consultation and support (p = 0.0005, p = 0.004).
• Shared decision making led to highest satisfaction; exclusive decision making led to lowest satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Shared decision making is crucial for enhancing patient satisfaction and support in cancer care.
• Ensuring patients achieve their preferred role in decision-making is vital for managing anxiety.
• Interventions for both doctors and patients are needed to promote effective participation.