"It's not like I can change my mind later": reversibility and decision timing in prostate cancer treatment decision-making.
OBJECTIVE
To explore whether reversibility, decision timing, and uncertainty are relevant to men deciding on treatment for localized prostate cancer (LPC).


METHODS
Secondary qualitative data analysis of unstructured interviews.


METHODS
Content analysis of previously collected qualitative data (31 individual interviews, 5 focus groups). We identified the frequency of references to reversibility, decision timing, and uncertainty and related sub-themes.


RESULTS
We identified eight themes: reversibility, timing of decision, number of options, "getting it over with," "the way I make decisions," uncertainty among experts, desire for certainty, and probability. Fifteen men mentioned reversibility in individual interviews; 13 mentioned the importance of the timing of their decision. Eleven mentioned the importance of the number of options; twelve "the way I make decisions." Eleven men mentioned the uncertainty of experts, fourteen the desire to "get it over with," and six a desire for certainty.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides compelling preliminary data suggesting that men consider the reversibility, decision timing, and uncertainty in the prostate cancer treatment decision.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings may be helpful in enhancing support for men facing the treatment decision.
Henrikson
Nora B
NB
University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute for Public Health Genetics, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. nhenriks@u.washington.edu
Ellis
William J
WJ
Berry
Donna L
DL
D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D035501:Uncertainty