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Patients' views on decision making in advanced cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2009

Jennifer Philip ,
Michelle Gold ,
Max Schwarz  and
Paul Komesaroff
Jennifer Philip*
Affiliation:
Centre for Palliative Care Education and Research, St. Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia
Michelle Gold
Affiliation:
Palliative Care Service, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Max Schwarz
Affiliation:
Medical Oncology Service, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Paul Komesaroff
Affiliation:
Centre for the Study of Ethics in Medicine and Society, Department of Medicine, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Jennifer Philip, Centre for Palliative Care Education and Research, St. Vincent's Hospital, PO Box 2900, Fitzroy, Vic. 3065, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective:

To explore patients' understanding of decision making in the treatment of advanced cancer and to determine the factors they believe important to these processes in their care.

Methods:

Surveys were distributed to consecutive outpatients with advanced malignancy attending a comprehensive cancer treatment center.

Results:

Patients believed that the medical condition (94%), their doctors' experience (81%), and the medical literature (73%) are the most important factors for decisions made in their care. They also value their relationship with the doctor (63%) and their own (the patients') values (63%), and just over a third considered their family's values and the doctors' personality important. Most did not believe the doctors' values should influence decisions made. They were mindful of the uncertainty involved in decisions in the setting of advanced cancer.

Significance of results:

Overall, patients were satisfied with the decision-making processes and they understood and highly regarded the incorporation of factors, other than their medical condition, in their care.

Keywords

Decision makingPalliative carePatient preferences
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , June 2009 , pp. 181 - 185
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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