Online exclusive: patient and surgeon decision making regarding surgery for advanced cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a program of research related to outcomes of palliative surgery and focus on one phase of this research involving decision making by patients and surgeons considering surgery for advanced disease.


METHODS
Descriptive.


METHODS
10 patients undergoing surgery and 3 oncology surgeons.


METHODS
Qualitative interviews were conducted with patients and their surgeons pre- and postoperatively. Transcripts were content analyzed to identify major themes in patient and surgeon interviews based on study questions.


METHODS
Decision making, palliative surgery, quality of life.


RESULTS
The study findings highlight the issues of greatest concern to patients and surgeons considering palliative surgery. This phase was an important component of the overall program of palliative surgery research.


CONCLUSIONS
Comprehensive care for patients with advanced cancer seeks to achieve a balance of providing aggressive care, ensuring optimum symptom management, and maintaining a focus on comfort. Further study of palliative surgery as an aspect of interdisciplinary care is warranted.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients undergoing surgery for advanced disease require expert nursing care to address quality-of-life concerns. Further research is needed in this area.
Ferrell
Betty R
BR
Department of Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA. bferrell@coh.org
Chu
David Z J
DZ
Wagman
Lawrence
L
Juarez
Gloria
G
Borneman
Tami
T
Cullinane
Carey
C
McCahill
Laurence E
LE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010166:Palliative Care; D010358:Patient Participation; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D013043:Specialties, Surgical