title: Preferences for treatment of lobectomy in Chinese lung cancer patients: video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery or open thoracotomy?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was designed to investigate the preferences for treatment of lobectomy in Chinese lung cancer patients and differences in the psychological and social factors that influence treatment decision-making.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty patients with stage I lung cancer were recruited from Hebei Cangzhou Central Hospital. Before surgery, the patients completed a questionnaire that surveyed their preferences for treatment and the relevant influencing factors. Differences in psychological and social characteristics were compared between lung cancer patients who chose video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and those who opted for open thoracotomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 135 valid questionnaires, 79 patients preferred VATS and 56 patients chose open thoracotomy. Potential side effects, doctors' recommendation, the prognosticated chance for cure, cosmesis, and financial burden influenced the patients' decisions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The minimally invasive advantages of VATS, including lesser trauma to the chest wall, earlier remission of postoperative pain, faster recovery, less bleeding, and improved cardiopulmonary function made VATS more attractive to patients needing lobectomy for lung cancer. However, the choice of VATS over open thoracotomy is still influenced by the degree of prognosticated cure and the feasibility of surgery.
authors.affiliation: Hebei Cangzhou Central Hospital, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Hebei Cangzhou Central Hospital, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Hebei Cangzhou Central Hospital, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhenfeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zong
authors.affiliation: Hebei Cangzhou Central Hospital, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Hebei Cangzhou Central Hospital, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Hebei Cangzhou Central Hospital, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mingming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Hebei Cangzhou Central Hospital, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qingjun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Hebei Cangzhou Central Hospital, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guoguang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Hebei Cangzhou Central Hospital, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fanyi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Xiangya Medical School of Central-South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shumin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Xiangya Medical School of Central-South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Siying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Xiangya Medical School of Central-South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tianwen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gao
keywords: Chinese; lobectomy; oncologists; treatment decision-making