Patients' attitudes to risk in lung cancer surgery: a qualitative study

Objectives Lung cancer surgery leads to long term survival for some patients but little is known about how patients decide whether to accept the associated surgical risks. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore patients’ attitudes to the risks associated with lung cancer surgery....

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Main Authors: Powell, Helen A., Jones, Laura L., Baldwin, David R., Duffy, John P., Hubbard, Richard B., Tod, Angela M., Solomon, Josie, Bains, Manpreet
Format: Article
Published: Elsevier 2015
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Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32063/
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author Powell, Helen A.
Jones, Laura L.
Baldwin, David R.
Duffy, John P.
Hubbard, Richard B.
Tod, Angela M.
Solomon, Josie
Bains, Manpreet
author_facet Powell, Helen A.
Jones, Laura L.
Baldwin, David R.
Duffy, John P.
Hubbard, Richard B.
Tod, Angela M.
Solomon, Josie
Bains, Manpreet
author_sort Powell, Helen A.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Objectives Lung cancer surgery leads to long term survival for some patients but little is known about how patients decide whether to accept the associated surgical risks. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore patients’ attitudes to the risks associated with lung cancer surgery. Methods Fifteen patients with resectable lung cancer, recruited via multi-disciplinary team meetings at an English tertiary referral centre, participated in semi-structured interviews to explore their attitudes to the morbidity and mortality risks associated with lung cancer surgery. Transcripts were analysed using the framework method. Results Participants reported being ‘pleased’ to hear that they were suitable for surgery and felt that surgery was not a treatment to be turned down because they did not see any alternatives. Participants had some knowledge of perioperative risks, including mortality estimates; however, many voiced a preference not to know these risks and to let the medical team decide their treatment plan. Some found it difficult to relate the potential risks and complications of surgery to their own situation and appeared willing to accept high perioperative mortality risks. Generally, participants were willing to accept quite severe long-term postoperative breathlessness; however, it was apparent that many actually found this possibility difficult to imagine. Conclusion Patients do not necessarily wish to know details of risks associated with lung cancer surgery and may wish to defer decisions about treatment to their medical team. Investment in the doctor-patient relationship, particularly for the surgeon, is therefore important in the management of patients with lung cancer.
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spelling nottingham-320632020-05-04T20:06:35Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32063/ Patients' attitudes to risk in lung cancer surgery: a qualitative study Powell, Helen A. Jones, Laura L. Baldwin, David R. Duffy, John P. Hubbard, Richard B. Tod, Angela M. Solomon, Josie Bains, Manpreet Objectives Lung cancer surgery leads to long term survival for some patients but little is known about how patients decide whether to accept the associated surgical risks. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore patients’ attitudes to the risks associated with lung cancer surgery. Methods Fifteen patients with resectable lung cancer, recruited via multi-disciplinary team meetings at an English tertiary referral centre, participated in semi-structured interviews to explore their attitudes to the morbidity and mortality risks associated with lung cancer surgery. Transcripts were analysed using the framework method. Results Participants reported being ‘pleased’ to hear that they were suitable for surgery and felt that surgery was not a treatment to be turned down because they did not see any alternatives. Participants had some knowledge of perioperative risks, including mortality estimates; however, many voiced a preference not to know these risks and to let the medical team decide their treatment plan. Some found it difficult to relate the potential risks and complications of surgery to their own situation and appeared willing to accept high perioperative mortality risks. Generally, participants were willing to accept quite severe long-term postoperative breathlessness; however, it was apparent that many actually found this possibility difficult to imagine. Conclusion Patients do not necessarily wish to know details of risks associated with lung cancer surgery and may wish to defer decisions about treatment to their medical team. Investment in the doctor-patient relationship, particularly for the surgeon, is therefore important in the management of patients with lung cancer. Elsevier 2015-11 Article PeerReviewed Powell, Helen A., Jones, Laura L., Baldwin, David R., Duffy, John P., Hubbard, Richard B., Tod, Angela M., Solomon, Josie and Bains, Manpreet (2015) Patients' attitudes to risk in lung cancer surgery: a qualitative study. Lung Cancer, 90 (2). pp. 358-363. ISSN 0169-5002 Lung neoplasm; Thoracic surgery; Risk; Mortality; Morbidity; Qualitative Research. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169500215300386 doi:10.1016/j.lungcan.2015.08.014 doi:10.1016/j.lungcan.2015.08.014
spellingShingle Lung neoplasm; Thoracic surgery; Risk; Mortality; Morbidity; Qualitative Research.
Powell, Helen A.
Jones, Laura L.
Baldwin, David R.
Duffy, John P.
Hubbard, Richard B.
Tod, Angela M.
Solomon, Josie
Bains, Manpreet
Patients' attitudes to risk in lung cancer surgery: a qualitative study
title Patients' attitudes to risk in lung cancer surgery: a qualitative study
title_full Patients' attitudes to risk in lung cancer surgery: a qualitative study
title_fullStr Patients' attitudes to risk in lung cancer surgery: a qualitative study
title_full_unstemmed Patients' attitudes to risk in lung cancer surgery: a qualitative study
title_short Patients' attitudes to risk in lung cancer surgery: a qualitative study
title_sort patients' attitudes to risk in lung cancer surgery: a qualitative study
topic Lung neoplasm; Thoracic surgery; Risk; Mortality; Morbidity; Qualitative Research.
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32063/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32063/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/32063/