Information needs and decision-making preferences of older women offered a choice between surgery and primary endocrine therapy for early breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To establish older women's (≥75 years) information preferences regarding 2 breast cancer treatment options: surgery plus adjuvant endocrine therapy versus primary endocrine therapy. To quantify women's preferences for the mode of information presentation and decision-making (DM) style.


METHODS
This was a UK multicentre survey of women, ≥75 years, who had been offered a choice between PET and surgery at diagnosis of breast cancer. A questionnaire was developed including 2 validated scales of decision regret and DM preferences.


RESULTS
Questionnaires were sent to 247 women, and 101 were returned (response rate 41%). The median age of participants was 82 (range 75 to 99), with 58 having had surgery and 37 having PET. Practical details about the impact, safety, and efficacy of treatment were of most interest to participants. Of least interest were cosmetic outcomes after surgery. Information provided verbally by doctors and nurses, supported by booklets, was preferred. There was little interest in technology-based sources of information. There was equal preference for a patient- or doctor-centred DM style and lower preference for a shared DM style. The majority (74%) experienced their preferred DM style. Levels of decision regret were low (15.73, scale 0-100).


CONCLUSIONS
Women strongly preferred face to face information. Written formats were also helpful but not computer-based resources. Information that was found helpful to women in the DM process was identified. The study demonstrates many women achieved their preferred DM style, with a preference for involvement, and expressed low levels of decision regret.
Centre for Health and Social Care Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield, UK.
Maria
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5411-8181
M
Burton
Centre for Health and Social Care Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield, UK.
Karen
K
Kilner
Academic Unit of Surgical Oncology, University of Sheffield, Medical School, Sheffield, UK.
Lynda
L
Wyld
Division of Population Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Kate Joanna
KJ
Lifford
Centre for Health and Social Care Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield, UK.
Frances
F
Gordon
Biostatistics Unit, MRC, Cambridge Institute of Public Health, Cambridge, UK.
Annabel
A
Allison
Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK.
Malcolm
M
Reed
Centre for Health and Social Care Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield, UK.
Karen Anna
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4317-142X
KA
Collins
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D057240:Patient Preference; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
breast cancer; decision making; elderly; information needs; primary endocrine therapy