Correlates of Adult Cancer Patients' Decision-Making Behaviors About Treatment

Abstract

This study investigated the ways in which 140 recently diagnosed cancer patients participated in treatment decisions. The most prevalent behavior was the tendency to adopt the recommendations of their physicians without actively participating in decision making, followed by rational vigilant decision making (systematically collecting and processing medical information to find the best choice) and impulsive hypervigilant decision making (unsystematically processing information and choosing the first option). The tendency to adopt the oncologists' recommendations without active participation in decision making was predicted by patients' higher age, external health-related locus of control, and low-to-moderate cognitive abilities. Vigilant decision making was associated with higher cognitive abilities and educational attainment, and hypervigilant decision making was associated with lower cognitive capabilities and an external locus of control. Depression was not related to decision-making behavior. The results indicate a need to adapt the provision of medical information and support in the process of decision making to patients' resources and expectations regarding participation in treatment decisions.