title: Distributed Cognition in Cancer Treatment Decision Making: An Application of the DECIDE Decision-Making Styles Typology.
abstract: Distributed cognition occurs when cognitive and affective schemas are shared between two or more people during interpersonal discussion. Although extant research focuses on distributed cognition in decision making between health care providers and patients, studies show that caregivers are also highly influential in the treatment decisions of patients. However, there are little empirical data describing how and when families exert influence. The current article addresses this gap by examining decisional support in the context of cancer randomized clinical trial (RCT) decision making. Data are drawn from in-depth interviews with rural, Appalachian cancer patients ( N = 46). Analysis of transcript data yielded empirical support for four distinct models of health decision making. The implications of these findings for developing interventions to improve the quality of treatment decision making and overall well-being are discussed.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Janice L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Krieger
authors.affiliation: 2 The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Krok-Schoen
authors.affiliation: 2 The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Phokeng M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dailey
authors.affiliation: 3 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
authors.forename: Angela L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Palmer-Wackerly
authors.affiliation: 4 University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schoenberg
authors.affiliation: 2 The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Electra D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Paskett
authors.affiliation: 4 University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dignan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001061:Appalachian Region; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition; D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000523:psychology*; D035842:Research Subjects / Q000523:psychology*; D012424:Rural Population; D012944:Social Support
keywords: In-depth qualitative interviews; USA; cancer; communication; health disparities; region: Appalachia; treatment decision making