https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9050-5800
![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed (1) to analyze patients’ perceived shared decision-making (SDM) experiences over 4 weeks between patients participating or not in multidisciplinary tumor conferences (MTCs) and (2) to analyze the association of patients’ active participation in and organizational variables of MTCs with patients’ perceived SDM experience directly after MTC.
Patients and Methods
From the N=317 patients, this observational study included patient surveys, observations, and audio transcripts from MTCs with (N=82) and without (N=145) patient participation in six breast and gynecologic cancer centers. We performed t tests for within- and between-group comparisons and linear regression with “patients’ perceived SDM experiences in MTC” as the dependent variable.
Results
Patients’ perceived SDM experiences increased at 4 weeks after MTC (p<0.001) with lower perceived SDM experiences for participating versus nonparticipating patients (p<0.001). Linear regression showed that the organizational variable “round table seating arrangement” was significantly associated with higher perceived SDM experiences compared with a theater or U-shape arrangement (beta=−0.38, p=0.043; beta=−0.69, p=0.010) directly after MTC.
Conclusion
Results provide first insights into patients’ perceived SDM experiences in MTCs. SDM in MTCs is associated with organizational variables of MTCs. A round table seating arrangement in MTCs with patient participation seems important for patients' perceived SDM experiences. The relatively low perceived SDM experiences of participating patients directly after MTC indicates room for improvement, eg concerning patient-centered communication.
Data Sharing Statement
Data and all other materials for this study are kept at the Center for Health Communication and Health Services Research, University of Bonn, University Hospital Bonn, Germany. The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to terms of written informed consent to which the participants agreed but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Ethics Approval and Informed Consent
All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This study was approved by the ethics committee of the Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne, Germany. Written informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Trial Registration
German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), DRKS00012552, registered prospectively on 16.06.2017, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00012552.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank all of the patients and the breast and gynecological cancer centers for participating in this study.
Author Contributions
All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising, or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
IS has been members of the executive board of the International Shared Decision Making Society, which has a mission to foster SDM implementation. LA declares grants from German Cancer Aid, during the conduct of the study. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.