Concordance between patients' desired and actual decision-making roles in breast cancer care

This study explored breast cancer patients' preferences and experiences for participation in treatment decision making as well as the concordance between patients' actual and desired decision making. The interplay between depression, anxiety and decision-making preferences was also examined.A consecutive sample of primary breast cancer patients was recruited within a week of either surgery or the beginning of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in two breast cancer centres in Germany. Women were asked to complete a self-explanatory questionnaire. Most patients (40.2%) of the 137 participants preferred the physician to make the treatment decision. A total of 63.4% were able to fulfil their preferred decision-making role. Breast cancer patients who wanted the physician to make the decision and patients who wanted to make the decision on their own were more likely to have their preferences met than patients who wished to share the decision (p < 0.01). Availability of treatment choice and the level of depression influenced the preferred decision-making preference. Limited concordance between desired and actual decision making of patients with collaborative decision-making preferences suggests the need for better communication and physician training on shared decision making.