title: [Quality of life or life expectancy? Criteria and sources of information in the decision-making of patients undergoing aortic valve surgery].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physicians are expected to involve patients adequately in the decision-making process prior to surgery. To this end, it is essential to have knowledge about the potential reasons for such a decision. In this study we investigated which information sources and decision criteria are important to patients prior to aortic valve surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive sample of 468 patients (70.1%m, aged 66.9±14.2 years) was examined 2 years after aortic valve replacement or reconstruction with a self-developed questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperative discussion with a cardiologist or a cardiac surgeon was the information source patients used most frequently and felt to be the most helpful. The most important decision criterion was quality of life, followed by life expectancy and likelihood of reoperation. Two years postoperatively, 97.3% of the patients were satisfied with their decision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative counseling by a physician plays an essential role in the decision-making process prior to cardiac surgery. Patients want to be involved in decision-making, though they do not want to bear the full responsibility.
authors.affiliation: Bliestal Kliniken, Fachklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin, Am Spitzenberg, 66440 Blieskastel.
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schmied
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barnick
authors.forename: Dierk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heimann
authors.forename: Hans-Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schäfers
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Köllner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D000082882:Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000523:psychology*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Aortic Valve Repair; Aortic Valve Replacement; Reasons for the Decision; Shared Decision-Making; Sources of Information