Deciding about (neo-)adjuvant rectal and breast cancer treatment: Missed opportunities for shared decision making

Figures & data

Table I. Reasons for encounter (frequencies) stated.

	Total N (%)	Rectal cancer N (%)	Breast cancer N (%)
All consultations	N = 100	N = 51	N = 49
What was the oncologist's stated reason for encounter?
Making a treatment decision  Example: “Well, the idea is that we just … give you the treatment as we normally do, but in light of this consultation, you can decide whether or not you … want to do it.”	3/100	2/51 (4)	1/49 (2)
Explaining treatment details  Example: “Well, the purpose of this consultation is for me to talk to you about radiotherapy, why, what you can expect, and what the side effects are.” or “You are here to talk about adjuvant treatment. You might benefit from chemotherapy and endocrine therapy”	44/100	20/51 (39)	24/49 (49)
Mentioning treatment  Example: “So Mrs. P, you have come today for the first consultation about the radiotherapy… of the rectum.”	17/100	14/51 (27)	3/49 (6)
Referral by other clinician  Example: “Okay, you have come… you were referred… for radiotherapy”	5/100	3/51 (6)	2/49 (4)
Explaining treatment process  Example: “What we are going to do. We… we are going to explain the whole course of treatment with radiotherapy and the surgery. And… then we are going to sort it all out for you.”	1/100	1/51 (2)	0
No reason for encounter stated	30/100	11/51 (22)	19/49 (39)
All reasons for encounter	N = 70	N = 40	N = 30
When was the reason for encounter stated?
At the start of the consultation	52/70 (74)	33/40 (83)	19/30 (63)
At the start, but after a summary of the disease/treatment process so far	10/70 (14)	3/40 (7)	7/30 (23)
After history taking	6/70 (9)	2/40 (5)	4/30 (13)
After (part of) information provision on treatment	2/70 (3)	2/40 (5)	0
How did the patient respond?
No reaction or minimal response  Example: “Yeah”, “Okay” or “Hmm”	55/70 (79)	32/40 (80)	23/30 (77)
Agreement  Example: “Yes, that's right”	12/70 (17)	6/40 (15)	6/30 (20)
Surprise  Example: “Oh, is that why I'm here?”	3/70 (4)	2/40 (5)	1/30 (3)