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Personalizing choices: Patients' experiences with making treatment decisions
Author(s) -
KellyPowell Mary L.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-240x(199706)20:3<219::aid-nur5>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - grounded theory , context (archaeology) , perspective (graphical) , medical diagnosis , medicine , perception , health care , patient participation , qualitative research , disease , psychology , sociology , paleontology , social science , pathology , artificial intelligence , neuroscience , computer science , economics , biology , economic growth
Because little is known about the perceptions of patients who make health care decisions under potentially life‐threatening conditions, a grounded theory approach was utilized to describe decision making from the patient's perspective. Eighteen respondents, aged 26 to 81, with diagnoses of heart disease, renal failure, or cancer were interviewed shortly after making a decision regarding treatment of their conditions and again about 1 month later. Respondents reported that their decisions to accept treatment were personalized to correspond with their views of themselves within the context of their life stories. Findings provide a basis for development of effective interaction and educational strategies for use with persons with potentially life‐threatening conditions. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Res Nurs Health 20: 219–227, 1997