Assessing Information and Decision Preferences of Men With Prostate Cancer and Their Partners

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify and compare information and decision preferences of men with prostate cancer and their partners at the time of diagnosis. A convenience sample of 80 couples was recruited from The Prostate Centre in Vancouver, Canada. Participants used a computerized version of two previously used measures with this population: Control Preferences Scale and Information Survey Questionnaire. Results showed that men had a preference to play either an active or a collaborative role in decision making with their physician (92.5%) and partners (100%). The majority (55%) of partners wanted to play a collaborative role in treatment decision making. Couples identified prognosis, stage of disease, treatment options, and side effects as the top 4 information preferences. Men ranked information on sexuality more important than partners, and partners ranked information on home self-care higher than men. Men who had sons, a positive family history, and lower levels of education ranked heredity risk significantly higher. Profiles of information categories did not differ according to role preferences of either men or partners. The computer program has been shown to be a reliable and acceptable method of assessing information and decision preferences of these couples. An individualized approach is suggested, given the high reliability of individual's profiles.

The psychosocial aspects of sexual recovery after prostate cancer treatment

“…[56][57][58][59] The factors that cause distress in partners are patients' physical pain and physical limitations. 53,58,60 Some partners are distressed by men's urinary incontinence. 53 Couple relationships are affected by prostate cancer treatment.…”

Associations of Self-rated Health and Socioeconomic Status with Information Seeking and Avoiding Behavior among Post-Treatment Cancer Patients

“…HISBs emerged when the importance of the shared-decision making model in patient-physician communication increased due to scientific advances in oncology (Committee on Quality of Health Care in America, 2001;Davison et al, 2002). Because informed patients actively interact with their medical providers to achieve the desired health outcome and manage their symptoms for themselves (Kahn et al, 2007), they are a desirable patient group for today's changing medical environment.…”

The impact of the perception of treatment choice on satisfaction with treatment, experienced chemotherapy burden and current quality of life

“…Gattellari et al (2001) observed that patients who perceived that they had shared the treatment decision with their physician were significantly more satisfied with the consultation, the amount of information and the emotional support received from their physician, than patients who perceived the treatment decision as having been made exclusively by themselves or their physician. Benefits that have been observed in patients with diseases other than cancer include: less stress, decreased levels of symptom distress and concern about illness, increased functional status, coping, control over illness, self-efficacy, understanding of and commitment to the treatment plan and satisfaction with their physician (Davison et al, 1995). Krupat et al (2000) observed that, in the case of surgical patients, more perception of control was related to more satisfaction with the care that patients had received during their hospital stay.…”