1. Family involvement in cancer treatment decision-making: A qualitative study of patient, family, and clinician attitudes and experiences.
- Author
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Laidsaar-Powell, Rebekah, Butow, Phyllis, Bu, Stella, Charles, Cathy, Gafni, Amiram, Fisher, Alana, and Juraskova, Ilona
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CANCER treatment , *ONCOLOGY , *TUMORS , *NASH equilibrium , *MULTIVARIATE analysis , *TUMOR treatment , *FAMILIES & psychology , *ATTITUDE (Psychology) , *PSYCHOLOGY of caregivers , *COMMUNICATION , *COMPARATIVE studies , *DECISION making , *INTERVIEWING , *RESEARCH methodology , *MEDICAL cooperation , *MEDICAL personnel , *PHYSICIAN-patient relations , *RESEARCH , *PATIENT participation , *QUALITATIVE research , *EVALUATION research , *PATIENTS' families ,TUMORS & psychology - Abstract
Objective: Little is known about how family are involved in cancer treatment decision-making. This study aimed to qualitatively explore Australian oncology clinicians', patients', and family members' attitudes towards, and experiences of, family involvement in decision-making.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 cancer patients, 33 family members, 10 oncology nurses and 11 oncologists. Framework analysis methods were used.Results: Three main themes were uncovered: (i) how family are involved in the decision-making process: specific behaviours of family across 5 (extended) decision-making stages; (ii) attitudes towards family involvement in the decision-making process: balancing patient authority with the rights of the family; and (iii) factors influencing family involvement: patient, family, cultural, relationship, and decision.Conclusion: This study highlighted many specific behaviours of family throughout the decision-making process, the complex participant attitudes toward retaining patient authority whilst including the family, and insight into influencing factors. These findings will inform a conceptual framework describing family involvement in decision-making.Practice Implications: Clinicians could ascertain participant preferences and remain open to the varying forms of family involvement in decision-making. Given the important role of family in the decision-making process, family inclusive consultation strategies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2016
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