Open AccessShared Decision-Making Support Process for Healthcare Professionals for Pregnant Cancer Patients and Their Families
Author(s) -
Rie S. Hori,
Shizue Suzuki
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
asia-pacific journal of oncology nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.542
H-Index - 9
eISSN - 2349-6673
pISSN - 2347-5625
DOI - 10.4103/2347-5625.311002
Subject(s) - medicine , focus group , family medicine , pregnancy , cancer , qualitative research , nursing , health professionals , social support , health care , psychology , psychotherapist , marketing , business , social science , genetics , sociology , economics , biology , economic growth
The mean age of cancer diagnosis has decreased, while the mean age of first marriage and child delivery has increased in Japan in recent years. Accordingly, an increasing number of pregnant women are being diagnosed with cancer. Pregnant cancer patients must consider simultaneously receiving cancer treatment and continuing their pregnancy and make related decisions. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) who support patients and their families experience conflict over which care should be prioritized between that for the patient and that of the fetus. Supporting pregnant cancer patients and their families in such complicated situations is challenging. This study aimed to explore the process of support for continuing cancer treatment for, and pregnancy in, cancer patients, based on shared decision-making (SDM) between the patient, her family, and HCPs.