Treatment decision-making in a group of patients with colo-rectal cancer before surgery and a one-year follow-up.
Encouraging patient participation in medical and nursing care is an active expression of respect for a person's autonomous choice. The aim of the present study was to compare preferences about the degree of participation in treatment decision-making in a group of patients with colo-rectal cancer before and one-year after surgery, and further to compare these preferences to the patients' actual participating role before surgery and their sense of coherence. Fifty-five persons diagnosed as having rectal or colon cancer were studied. The following instruments were used: The Control Preferences Scale (CPS) and the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC). Results show that 71% and 75%, respectively, chose a collaborative participation role, before surgery and at follow-up. A majority, 64%, maintained their preferred role from before surgery to the one-year follow-up. Agreement between the preferred and the actual participating role was achieved by 31%. There were no statistically significant differences between the preferred role and with respect to the participants' sense of coherence either before surgery or at follow-up. The sense of coherence seemed not to be related to the preferences before surgery or at follow-up preferences. Further research is needed to elaborate the understanding about patients' preferences for participating in treatment and care decisions.
Ramfelt
E
E
Department of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. ethel.ramfelt@omv.ki.se
Lützen
K
K
Nordström
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests