Treatment decision-making in a group of patients with colo-rectal cancer before surgery and a one-year follow-up

• Published in: European journal of cancer care Vol. 14; no. 4; pp. 327 - 335
• Main Authors: RAMFELT, E., LÜTZEN, K., NORDSTRÖM, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.09.2005; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Coherence; colo-rectal cancer; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal Neoplasms - psychology; Colorectal Neoplasms - surgery; Decision Making; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Middle Aged; Nursing; Participation; patient participation; Patient Participation - psychology; Patients; Preferences; Psychological Tests; sense of coherence; Treatment; Sweden
• ISSN: 0961-5423; 1365-2354; 1365-2354
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2354.2005.00588.x

Encouraging patient participation in medical and nursing care is an active expression of respect for a person's autonomous choice. The aim of the present study was to compare preferences about the degree of participation in treatment decision‐making in a group of patients with colo‐rectal cancer before and one‐year after surgery, and further to compare these preferences to the patients’ actual participating role before surgery and their sense of coherence. Fifty‐five persons diagnosed as having rectal or colon cancer were studied. The following instruments were used: The Control Preferences Scale (CPS) and the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC). Results show that 71% and 75%, respectively, chose a collaborative participation role, before surgery and at follow‐up. A majority, 64%, maintained their preferred role from before surgery to the one‐year follow‐up. Agreement between the preferred and the actual participating role was achieved by 31%. There were no statistically significant differences between the preferred role and with respect to the participants’ sense of coherence either before surgery or at follow‐up. The sense of coherence seemed not to be related to the preferences before surgery or at follow‐up preferences. Further research is needed to elaborate the understanding about patients’ preferences for participating in treatment and care decisions.