Work

Thoracic Surgeon and Patient Focus Groups on Decision-Making in Early-Stage Lung Cancer Surgery

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: AIM: To investigate medical decision-making from the thoracic surgeons' and patients' perspectives in early-stage lung cancer. PATIENTS & METHODS: We conducted one focus group with thoracic surgeons (n = 15) and one with a group of early-stage lung cancer patients treated with surgery (n = 7). Focus groups were recorded, transcribed and coded for themes. RESULTS: For surgeons, surgical procedure choice was a primary concern, followed by the surgical treatment plan decision-making process. Survivors focused primarily on the physical and mental health-related postsurgical burden for which they felt they were not well prepared and placed less emphasis on surgical decision-making. CONCLUSION: As early-stage lung cancer mortality rates are improving, surgeons and patients can prioritize surgical approaches and postsurgical care that enhance quality of life.

Source: Future Oncology

DOI: 10.2217/fon-2017-0254