Integrated oncological treatment decision-making: Creating a practice of patient-centred decision-making

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Services Research
• Decision Science

Background:

• Cancer treatment faces challenges with standardized guidelines that may not align with individual patient needs or quality of life.
• Current oncology care often prioritizes medical endpoints over patient preferences and treatment burden, leading to suboptimal choices and regret.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Integrated Oncological Decision-making Model (IODM) for personalized cancer care.
• To address the limitations of guideline-based care by incorporating patient-specific factors into treatment planning.

Main Methods:

• The IODM integrates three key domains: medical treatment options, patient goals/preferences, and general health status.
• Focus on shared decision-making between healthcare professionals and patients.

Main Results:

• Initial implementation shows patients receiving less invasive and more suitable treatments.
• No compromise in survival outcomes observed with the IODM approach.
• Demonstrated potential for reducing unnecessary treatments and improving patient outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The IODM facilitates patient-centered care by tailoring treatment plans to individual needs.
• Continued evaluation and implementation are crucial for integrating the IODM into routine oncology practice.
• The model enhances the quality and effectiveness of cancer care through personalized decision-making.