Shared Decision-Making in Treatment Selection in Multiple Myeloma in Spain: The PRISMMA Study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Hematology
• Patient Experience Research

Background:

• Understanding patient and physician perspectives on shared decision-making (SDM) in multiple myeloma (MM) care is limited.
• A survey study was conducted in Spain to investigate these viewpoints.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore patient and haematologist perceptions of shared decision-making in multiple myeloma care.
• To identify agreement and discordance in treatment goals and decision-making processes.

Main Methods:

• Two anonymous online surveys were administered to haematologists and MM patients.
• Surveys included questions on treatment goals, discussion of options, and the decision-making process.

Main Results:

• High agreement exists on prolonging survival with good quality of life as the primary treatment goal.
• Significant discordance was found in the reported frequency of discussing treatment goals (92% of haematologists vs. 17% of patients).
• Discrepancies were observed in perceptions of who makes the final treatment decision.

Conclusions:

• While primary treatment goals align, secondary goals and the SDM process require improvement in multiple myeloma care.
• Addressing identified differences is essential for tailoring treatment to individual patient needs throughout their journey.
• Enhancing communication and alignment in SDM can lead to more appropriate and personalized MM treatment strategies.