Background: Patient engagement in decision making can improve satisfaction with care. Studies demonstrate that patients' emotional states can be significant barriers to engaging in shared decision making.
Objective: We sought to examine how emotion associated with a breast cancer diagnosis impacts patient experiences during the surgical consultation, and explore opportunities for surgeons to mitigate the impact of emotion.
Methods: We conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with patients who participated in the decision aid arm of Alliance A231701CD, had low engagement, and experienced barriers to engagement. We used qualitative content analysis to analyze the interview data and organize it into overarching themes.
Results: Participants recalled strong emotions with their diagnosis, describing it as devastating and shocking. Although several participants said that their emotional reaction to the diagnosis lessened over time, others expressed still feeling very anxious. Participants described ways in which their surgeon helped to de-escalate their emotional state, beginning with the establishment of rapport and continuing through treatment planning. Participants valued surgeons who they perceived to be personable and compassionate, treated them as an individual, provided reassuring and matter-of-fact information about their cancer, and efficiently communicated plans for next steps.
Conclusions: Patients with breast cancer are often emotionally overwhelmed during their surgical consults, which impedes their ability to listen and participate in decision making. However, surgeon behaviors can help de-escalate emotions. Addressing emotion is critical to support patients in reaching a decision for breast cancer surgery and is likely to improve patient satisfaction with the decision process.
Clinical Trials Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03766009.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1245/s10434-024-16156-1 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Survival Outcomes for Adolescent and Young Adults With Cancer in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.
JCO Glob Oncol
January 2025
Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Purpose: Patients with adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer are recognized as a vulnerable subpopulation in high-income countries (HICs). Although survival gaps between HIC and low- and middle-income country (LMIC) children with cancer are well described, LMIC AYAs have been neglected. We conducted a systematic review to describe cancer outcomes among LMIC AYAs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes-Palliative Care (ECHO-PC; ECHO Model-Based comprehensive educational and telementoring intervention) for health care professionals (HCPs) and change in patient-reported quality-of-life (QOL; Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General [FACT-G]) among patients with advanced cancer. We also examined the association between ECHO-PC and changes in symptom distress (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale [ESAS]), patient experience and satisfaction, and caregiver distress scores.
Methods: ECHO-PC Clinic sessions were conducted twice a month for 1 year by an interdisciplinary team of PC clinicians at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, with participation of experts in PC in sub-Saharan Africa, using standardized curriculum on the basis of PC needs in the region.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Breast Cancer Patient Care: Results From a Tertiary Care Center in Lebanon.
JCO Glob Oncol
January 2025
Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on breast cancer care in terms of the stage at presentation, treatment delays, and follow-up in a tertiary care center in Lebanon.
Materials And Methods: This retrospective study compared patients with breast cancer who presented to a tertiary care center in Lebanon before (September 2019-December 2019) and during (September 2020-December 2020) the COVID-19 pandemic. We extracted data from the electronic medical records of patients with breast cancer who had their initial presentation, were under treatment, or were on follow-up during our period of interest.
Patient and Health Care Professional Perspectives on Barriers to and Facilitators of Healthy Eating and Exercise Among Patients With Cancer at a Safety-Net Oncology Clinic: A Qualitative Exploration.
JCO Oncol Pract
January 2025
Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Purpose: Previous studies have described barriers to and facilitators of healthy eating and being physically active among patients with cancer, but few have done so in a safety-net community oncology setting.
Materials And Methods: To understand multiple perspectives on the factors that influence diet and exercise in patients with cancer treated in safety-net settings, we conducted semistructured interviews between June and November 2021 with patients and oncology clinic medical professionals at a safety-net hospital in Houston, TX.
Results: Thirty-one patients with cancer were interviewed, including 11 patients on active treatment and 20 survivors, as well as 21 care health care professionals.
Post-traumatic growth experience of breast cancer patients: A qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis.
PLoS One
January 2025
Guang'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guang'an, Sichuan Province, China.
Objectives: This study aimed to systematically incorporate the post-traumatic growth experience of breast cancer patients and furnish insights for the formulation of targeted psychological care measures.
Methods: The search period we were ranged from establishing the database to February 2024. We systematically searched four Chinese databases and seven English databases.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!