Findings from a recent study “emphasize the importance” 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 & Patient Navigators 14th Annual Navigation & 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 “treatment decisions at relapse or refraction play a critical role in patient outcomes,” the presenters said.
To conduct the study, the researchers surveyed patients using the HealthTree Cure Hub, a “patient-derived, patient-driven clinical cancer information platform that empowers patients to contribute to myeloma research.” 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, “my doctor makes recommendations and I follow the doctor’s suggestion,” 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, “my doctor makes recommendations, we discuss my preferences, but I follow the doctor’s suggestions,” 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, “my doctor makes recommendations, I ask questions and we discuss my preferences, propose ideas, and we decide together,” 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, “my doctor makes recommendations, I ask questions, and we discuss my preferences, propose ideas, and I make the final decision,” 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 “other,” 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, “my doctor makes recommendations, I ask questions and we discuss my preferences, propose ideas, and we decide together,” making it the most common response among Black and White patients. In Hispanic or Latino patients, the most common response (54%) was “my doctor makes recommendations, I ask questions and we discuss my preferences, and I make the final decision.”
“The analysis of education satisfaction and comfortability with the decision for different 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,” the researchers concluded.
Reference
Calloway-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 & Patient Navigators 14th Annual Navigation & Survivorship Conference; November 15-19, 2023; San Antonio, Texas.
