Cecilia Brown

Cancer Nursing Today nonprod

Findings from a recent study &ldquo;emphasize the importance&rdquo; of provider-patient communication and shared decision-making in treatment choices for multiple myeloma.Researchers from the HealthTree Foundation for Multiple Myeloma presented the study results during the Academy of Oncology Nurse &amp; Patient Navigators 14th Annual Navigation &amp; Survivorship Conference. The study focused on understanding the implications of shared decision-making, racial disparities in doctor-patient relationships, and patient satisfaction in multiple myeloma.It was important to conduct the study because multiple myeloma is a complex hematological malignancy, and &ldquo;treatment decisions at relapse or refraction play a critical role in patient outcomes,&rdquo; the presenters said.To conduct the study, the researchers surveyed patients using the HealthTree Cure Hub, a &ldquo;patient-derived, patient-driven clinical cancer information platform that empowers patients to contribute to myeloma research.&rdquo; A total of 562 patients with multiple myeloma participated in the study, 405 answered a question about how they would describe their relationship with their doctor, and 300 had available demographics.Among the 5.3% of patients who responded, &ldquo;my doctor makes recommendations and I follow the doctor&rsquo;s suggestion,&rdquo; 51% were uncomfortable or very uncomfortable with their change in treatment decision, 1% were neither comfortable nor uncomfortable, and 48% were comfortable or very comfortable.Among the 17.6% of patients who responded, &ldquo;my doctor makes recommendations, we discuss my preferences, but I follow the doctor&rsquo;s suggestions,&rdquo; 83% were uncomfortable or very uncomfortable with their change in treatment decision, and 17% were comfortable or very comfortable.Among the 48% of patients who responded, &ldquo;my doctor makes recommendations, I ask questions and we discuss my preferences, propose ideas, and we decide together,&rdquo; 60% were uncomfortable or very uncomfortable with their change in treatment decision, 2% were neither comfortable nor uncomfortable, and 38% were comfortable or very comfortable.Among the 27.3% of patients who responded, &ldquo;my doctor makes recommendations, I ask questions, and we discuss my preferences, propose ideas, and I make the final decision,&rdquo; 50% were uncomfortable or very uncomfortable with their change in treatment decision, and 50% were comfortable or very comfortable.Among all patients who responded to the question, including the 1.8% who responded &ldquo;other,&rdquo; 51% were uncomfortable or very uncomfortable with their change in treatment decision, 1% were neither comfortable nor uncomfortable, and 48% were comfortable or very comfortable.The researchers also broke down the responses by demographics, finding that 49% of White patients and 50% of Black patients responded, &ldquo;my doctor makes recommendations, I ask questions and we discuss my preferences, propose ideas, and we decide together,&rdquo; making it the most common response among Black and White patients. In Hispanic or Latino patients, the most common response (54%) was &ldquo;my doctor makes recommendations, I ask questions and we discuss my preferences, and I make the final decision.&rdquo;&ldquo;The analysis of education satisfaction and comfortability with the decision for diff&shy;erent relationship types showed that higher satisfaction and comfortability scores were associated with relationship types where patients asked questions, proposed ideas, and decided together with their doctor,&rdquo; the researchers concluded.ReferenceCalloway-Campbell MG, Flores Perez PA, Jensen R, et al. Doctor-patient relationships and patient satisfaction in multiple myeloma: implications of shared decision-making and racial disparities. Academy of Oncology Nurse &amp; Patient Navigators 14th Annual Navigation &amp; Survivorship Conference; November 15-19, 2023; San Antonio, Texas.

Communication, Shared Decision-Making Affects Satisfaction With Myeloma Treatment Choices

Conferences

Findings from a recent study presented at AONN+ “emphasize the importance” of provider-patient communication and shared decision-making in treatment choices for multiple myeloma.