Patient Participation in Multidisciplinary High-Risk Surgery Discussions: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Surgical Decision Making
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• High-risk older adults often face complex surgical decisions.
• Traditional decision-making may not fully incorporate patient and family perspectives.
• Multidisciplinary teams can enhance complex medical choices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of including patients and caregivers in multidisciplinary team discussions for surgical decision-making.
• To assess the feasibility and acceptance of a patient-centered approach in surgical planning.
• To determine if this collaborative model influences surgical decisions in high-risk older adults.

Main Methods:

• A pilot program involved patients and their family/caregivers in multidisciplinary surgical decision-making discussions.
• Semistructured interviews were conducted with participants post-discussion.
• Qualitative mixed-methods analysis was applied to interview transcripts.

Main Results:

• Six patients and caregivers participated, finding discussions improved understanding of surgical choices.
• Fifty percent (3 of 6) of patients changed their decision regarding the planned operation after the discussion.
• The pilot study demonstrated acceptance and feasibility among all participants.

Conclusions:

• Involving patients and caregivers in multidisciplinary surgical decision-making discussions is feasible and accepted.
• This patient-centered approach can lead to significant changes in surgical plans for high-risk older adults.
• Collaborative decision-making enhances patient understanding and may alter surgical trajectories.