title: Online exclusive: patient and surgeon decision making regarding surgery for advanced cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA. bferrell@coh.org
authors: Betty R
authors: BR
authors: Ferrell
authors: David Z J
authors: DZ
authors: Chu
authors: Lawrence
authors: L
authors: Wagman
authors: Gloria
authors: G
authors: Juarez
authors: Tami
authors: T
authors: Borneman
authors: Carey
authors: C
authors: Cullinane
authors: Laurence E
authors: LE
authors: McCahill
mesh_terms: 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