Quantitative Assessments of Shared Decision-Making for Pancreatic Cancer Surgery: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Services Research
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Shared decision-making (SDM) is crucial in patient-centered care.
• Assessment of SDM specifically for pancreatic cancer surgery remains limited.
• This study addresses the need for quantitative SDM assessments in this surgical context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze studies using quantitative assessments of SDM for pancreatic cancer surgery.
• To evaluate the alignment of existing SDM assessment tools with the needs of pancreatic cancer surgery patients.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of four databases was conducted up to March 2025.
• Six studies met inclusion criteria, yielding seven validated quantitative SDM assessments.
• Data extraction and thematic analysis were performed on assessment items.

Main Results:

• Seven quantitative SDM assessments were identified (3 patient-reported, 4 externally observed).
• The "shared decision making questionnaire-9" was the most frequently used instrument.
• Key themes included eliciting preferences, discussing pros/cons, and presenting options.

Conclusions:

• Existing SDM assessment tools are not specifically designed for pancreatic cancer surgery.
• A notable discrepancy exists between current SDM assessments and the specific requirements for pancreatic cancer surgery.