title: Preferences for outcomes of treatment for rectal cancer: patient and clinician utilities and their application in an interactive computer-based decision aid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the importance that patients and clinicians assign to specific quality-of-life outcomes associated with the treatment of rectal cancer and to demonstrate a clinical application of these data in a computer-based multidimension decision aid (Annalisa).
  
  
  METHODS
  For patients, a researcher-administered questionnaire using the time trade-off method was used to quantify the importance of nine outcomes. Information was ascertained from clinicians by use of a self-administered questionnaire. Responses were ranked and compared between groups. Mean values for each outcome were entered into Annalisa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 103 patients, 87 colorectal surgeons, 97 medical oncologists, and 80 radiation oncologists participated. For all groups, local cancer recurrence in the pelvis and fecal incontinence (mean utility scores 0.53 and 0.57, respectively) were the two outcomes to most avoid. In Annalisa, the "best fit" treatment for patients and surgeons was a low anterior resection with postoperative chemotherapy, whereas for medical and radiation oncologists the best-fit treatment was surgery alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Local recurrence and fecal incontinence are considered the worst outcomes by patients and clinicians alike, but values for other outcomes vary. Decision aids that incorporate patients' individual values with evidence-based data hold considerable potential to optimize treatment decision-making.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Outcomes Research Centre (SOuRCe), Sydney South West Area Health Service and School of Public Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Lindy M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Masya
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: Glenn P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Salkeld
mesh_terms: D003107:Colorectal Surgery; D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D057240:Patient Preference; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018787:Radiation Oncology; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome