A qualitative exploration of companion involvement in the presurgical consent visit for patients undergoing major surgery for advanced cancer.

Abstract

29 Background: The decision to undergo non-emergent cancer surgery is complicated by risk of mortality and diminished quality of life weighed against potential benefits of extended life and symptom management. Sometimes, unanticipated clinical information or quality of life considerations (“disruptions”) arise during these pre-surgical visits, which can lead to to the surgery’s reconsideration, postponement, or cancelation. Little is known about disruptions. This paper explores case studies of how patients, companions, and surgeons negotiate surgical plan disruptions. Methods: This study is based on secondary analysis of pre-surgical recordings with 61 patients and nine surgeons. Patients were recruited at nine surgical oncology clinics at an academic tertiary care hospital from July 2015-September 2016. Qualitative analysis incorporated existing theory and inductively developed codes. Results: Four of the 61 pre-surgical visits were identified as having a disruption. Each case study explores the presentation of the disruption, patient reaction to the disruption, companion involvement and role in the encounter, and resolution of the disruption. While each disruption involves a nuanced approach to decision making, there are cross cutting themes across the cases. Specifically, analysis of these visits explored companion roles, including: patient autonomy-enhancing behaviors and patient autonomy-detracting behaviors. This analysis also addressed variation and similarities in surgeons’ behaviors, including examples of collaborative, facilitative, and informative behaviors. Conclusions: As more high risk surgeries are performed on sicker and older patients, decision making regarding whether to pursue surgery may become increasingly complex, and lend itself more frequently to disruptions. Disruption reflects the engagement and mutual influence of multi-party participants in treatment decision making. By enhancing our understanding of disruptions, we hope to assist in the delicate communication and shared decision making needed for a patient and family centered resolution. Clinical trial information: NCT02489799.