Thoracic surgeon and patient focus groups on decision-making in early-stage lung cancer surgery

Future Oncol. 2018 Jan;14(2):151-163. doi: 10.2217/fon-2017-0254. Epub 2017 Dec 12.

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.

Keywords: early-stage lung cancer; focus groups; quality of life.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Clinical Decision-Making*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Quality of Life
  • Surgeons / psychology*
  • Thoracic Surgical Procedures