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Integrating Augmented Reality Tools in Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Prognostication and Diagnosis
Published on: February 6, 2020
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Improving shared decision making in virtual breast cancer surgery consultations.
Alyssa A Wiener1, Heather B Neuman2
1Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
American Journal of Surgery
|April 5, 2024
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated telehealth use in breast surgery. Strategies like pre-visit preparation and deliberate pauses can enhance virtual shared decision-making for patients.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Surgical Oncology
- Patient Communication
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid adoption of telehealth in medical subspecialties.
- Telehealth offers benefits like patient convenience and access but presents challenges for shared decision-making.
- Breast surgery consultations traditionally rely on in-person interaction for effective patient-provider communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the components of a standard in-person breast surgery consultation.
- To propose a model for an effective virtual breast surgery consultation.
- To identify strategies for improving patient engagement and shared decision-making in telehealth settings.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of in-person breast surgery consults.
- Development of a proposed model for virtual breast surgery consults.
- Identification of strategies to enhance virtual patient engagement and decision-making.
Main Results:
- Virtual platforms can pose unique challenges to the nuances of shared decision-making.
- A proposed model emphasizes pre-visit preparation, deliberate pauses, and targeted engagement.
- These strategies aim to help patients integrate information and participate actively in treatment choices.
Conclusions:
- Intentional strategies are crucial for optimizing shared decision-making in virtual breast surgery consults.
- Implementing a structured virtual model can improve the quality of patient-provider interactions.
- Enhanced virtual platforms are essential for maintaining high standards of care in breast surgery via telehealth.
