No time for reflection: patient experiences with treatment-related decision-making in advanced prostate cancer

Background: The rationale of the study was the predominant
understanding that patient involvement in treatment-
related decision-making is essential and that
communication with cancer patients can affect their
quality of life, satisfaction with care, and psychosocial
and medical outcomes positively.
Aim: This study explored how patients with advanced
prostate cancer experience the communication with
health professionals and their experiences of how and by
whom treatment-related decisions were made.
Methods: A phenomenological-hermeneutic research design
was applied, and data were collected using qualitative interviews
supplemented with participant observations in a urological
outpatient clinic at a regional hospital in Denmark.
Thirteen patients participated. Data were analysed using
Ricoeur’s theory of interpretation.
Findings: The patients experienced the course as being routine
and that decisions related to treatment were made in
advance. Three themes were identified: (1) Fast track diagnosing
and treatment, (2) Off course I should have this
treatment, and (3) They don’t ask about existential issues.
Conclusion: The study concluded that patients experienced
communication primarily revolved around disease- and
treatment-related issues and that it was characterised as
efficient and straightforward, but insufficient. The
patients experienced that the doctors made treatment-related
decisions without involving them.