When there’s a choice
Depending on the type and stage of cancer, planning appropriate medical treatment may be straightforward or may involve choosing among several options. The advantages and disadvantages of each option carry different weights for a given individual. How can we ensure that each patient receives the treatment most appropriate for his or her individual circumstances? What is the best process for making treatment decisions, in terms of efficiency, outcome and patient satisfaction? What factors influence preference for involvement in treatment decisions, and do these factors change over time? What do patients actually experience in terms of involvement? Does the approach to decision making have any effect on treatment?

This article presents research into the fundamental issue of patients’ desire to be involved in making decisions about their medical treatment, as well as factors influencing these preferences, changes in preferences over time and discrepancies between preferences and actual experiences. It calls for more research into how participation in decision making may influence psychosocial outcomes.