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No time for reflection: Patient experiences with treatment‐related decision‐making in advanced prostate cancer
Author(s) -
NetseyAfedo Mette Margrethe Løwe,
Ammentorp Jette,
Osther Palle Jørn Sloth,
Birkelund Regner
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of caring sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1471-6712
pISSN - 0283-9318
DOI - 10.1111/scs.12794
Subject(s) - prostate cancer , medicine , reflection (computer programming) , prostate , cancer , gynecology , psychology , nursing , computer science , programming language
Background The rationale of the study was the predominant understanding that patient involvement in treatment‐related decision‐making is essential and that communication with cancer patients can affect their quality of life, satisfaction with care, and psychosocial and medical outcomes positively. Aim This study explored how patients with advanced prostate cancer experience the communication with health professionals and their experiences of how and by whom treatment‐related decisions were made. Methods A phenomenological‐hermeneutic research design was applied, and data were collected using qualitative interviews supplemented with participant observations in a urological outpatient clinic at a regional hospital in Denmark. Thirteen patients participated. Data were analysed using Ricoeur’s theory of interpretation. Findings The patients experienced the course as being routine and that decisions related to treatment were made in advance. Three themes were identified: (1) Fast track diagnosing and treatment, (2) Off course I should have this treatment, and (3) They don't ask about existential issues. Conclusion The study concluded that patients experienced communication primarily revolved around disease‐ and treatment‐related issues and that it was characterised as efficient and straightforward, but insufficient. The patients experienced that the doctors made treatment‐related decisions without involving them.