Role of the family in Treatment Decision-Making process for Omani women diagnosed with breast cancer

• Published in: Patient education and counseling Vol. 102; no. 2; pp. 352 - 359
• Main Authors: Al-Bahri, Abdulrahim, Al-Moundhri, Mansour, Al-Mandhari, Zahid, Al-Azri, Mohammed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.02.2019
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Breast; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms - ethnology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Cancer; Communication; Cross-Sectional Studies; Decision Making; Family - ethnology; Family - psychology; Family members; Female; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Middle Aged; Nursing; Oman; Patient Participation; Patient Preference - psychology; Socioeconomic Factors; Treatment decision-making; Women; Young Adult; Oman; Treatment decision-making; Women; Breast; Family members; Oman; Cancer
• ISSN: 0738-3991; 1873-5134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2018.08.026

•Several factors influence Treatment decision-making (TDM) process.•Male, young and employed family member are more involved in TDM.•Patients are less involved in TDM if they old, uneducated or at advanced cancer.•Oncologists should consider involving patient’s family members in TDM.•Oncologists should consider the factors that influence TDM. There is limited number of studies from Arabic countries on the participation of family members in Treatment decision-making (TDM) process. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of family members in the TDM process among adult Omani women diagnosed with breast cancer. A cross-sectional study has been conducted with women diagnosed with breast cancer and their nominated family members. A total of 79 patients and their nominated family members participated. The family members who were most engaged in the TDM were more likely to be young, male, employed and first-degree relative. The following characteristics of patients associated with more family-controlled the TDM: being older (crude odds ratio [OR] = 7.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.28–22.20), no formal education (OR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.54) and diagnosed at stage IV (OR = 6.55; 95% CI: 1.89–22.65). The family members who dominate communication with the oncologists were more likely to control the TDM (OR = 6.03; 95% CI: 1.78–20.42). Several factors influence the TDM process including age, gender, employments status, educational level and capability of communication. The TDM process is heavily involves family members. This should be taking in consideration by oncologists during counselling in order to reach the best treatment.