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. 2020 Sep 29:7:2333393620960059.
doi: 10.1177/2333393620960059. eCollection 2020 Jan-Dec.

Medical Care-Related Decisions among Patients Diagnosed with Early Stage Malignant Brain Tumor: A Qualitative Study

Hanako Numata  1 , Maiko Noguchi-Watanabe  1 , Akitake Mukasa  1 , Shota Tanaka  1 , Shunsaku Takayanagi  1 , Nobuhito Saito  1 , Noriko Yamamoto-Mitani  1
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Medical Care-Related Decisions among Patients Diagnosed with Early Stage Malignant Brain Tumor: A Qualitative Study

Hanako Numata et al. Glob Qual Nurs Res. .

Abstract

Medical care-related decision-making among patients with malignant brain tumors has not been sufficiently discussed. This study aimed to develop a framework for understanding patients' experiences in the decision-making process. Semi-structured interviews with 14 patients were analyzed using a grounded theory approach, focusing on their 48 decision-making points. Additionally, interviews with two family members and seven healthcare providers, and participant observations were used to gain contextual insight into patients' experiences. Patients faced decisions while they struggled in vulnerability under shock, fear, and anxiety while hoping. Under this context, they showed four decision-making patterns: (1) led by the situation, (2) controlled by others, (3) entrusted someone with the decision, and (4) myself as a decision-making agent. Across these patterns, the patients were generally satisfied with their decisions even when they did not actively participate in the process. Healthcare providers need to understand patients' contexts and their attitudes toward yielding decision-making to others.

Keywords: Cancer; Japan; grounded theory; patient experience; qualitative research; treatment decision making.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Framework of study.
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