PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the degree to which informed women chose mastectomy, and to reveal their reasons for this choice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of patients radiographically and pathologically eligible for either mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery (BCS; n = 125). Participants completed questionnaires at three time points: baseline, after viewing a decision aid, and after a surgical consultation. Questionnaires assessed clinical history, preference for participation in decision making, information comprehension, values, decisional conflict, and preferred treatment. RESULTS: Of 125 participants, 44 (35%) chose mastectomy. Most understood that BCS and mastectomy offer an equivalent survival benefit (98%) and that BCS has a slightly higher local recurrence risk (63%); most accurately identified the magnitude of ipsilateral local recurrence risk (91%). Values assigned to three treatment attributes/outcomes ("remove breast for peace of mind," "avoid radiation," and "keep breast") clearly discriminated between patients choosing mastectomy or BCS. High decisional conflict scores improved after both the decision aid and surgical consultation. CONCLUSION: Although conventional wisdom may view BCS as the preferred treatment, a notable proportion of well informed women choose mastectomy. Whereas prior studies have linked objective factors to treatment choice, this study reveals subjective preferences that underlie decision making. The systematic use of a decision aid before the surgical consultation may help women make informed, values-based decisions, while clearly reducing decisional conflict.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the degree to which informed women chose mastectomy, and to reveal their reasons for this choice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of patients radiographically and pathologically eligible for either mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery (BCS; n = 125). Participants completed questionnaires at three time points: baseline, after viewing a decision aid, and after a surgical consultation. Questionnaires assessed clinical history, preference for participation in decision making, information comprehension, values, decisional conflict, and preferred treatment. RESULTS: Of 125 participants, 44 (35%) chose mastectomy. Most understood that BCS and mastectomy offer an equivalent survival benefit (98%) and that BCS has a slightly higher local recurrence risk (63%); most accurately identified the magnitude of ipsilateral local recurrence risk (91%). Values assigned to three treatment attributes/outcomes ("remove breast for peace of mind," "avoid radiation," and "keep breast") clearly discriminated between patients choosing mastectomy or BCS. High decisional conflict scores improved after both the decision aid and surgical consultation. CONCLUSION: Although conventional wisdom may view BCS as the preferred treatment, a notable proportion of well informed women choose mastectomy. Whereas prior studies have linked objective factors to treatment choice, this study reveals subjective preferences that underlie decision making. The systematic use of a decision aid before the surgical consultation may help women make informed, values-based decisions, while clearly reducing decisional conflict.
Authors: Ann H Partridge; Joann G Elmore; Debbie Saslow; Worta McCaskill-Stevens; Stuart J Schnitt Journal: CA Cancer J Clin Date: 2012-04-04 Impact factor: 508.702
Authors: Eva Mazzotti; Gian Carlo Antonini Cappellini; Stefania Buconovo; Roberto Morese; Alessandro Scoppola; Claudia Sebastiani; Paolo Marchetti Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2012-01-21 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Mahmut Gumus; Basak O Ustaalioglu; Meral Garip; Emre Kiziltan; Ahmet Bilici; Mesut Seker; Burcak Erkol; Taflan Salepci; Alpaslan Mayadagli; Nazim S Turhal Journal: Breast Care (Basel) Date: 2010-05-27 Impact factor: 2.860