Women’s decision-making needs related to treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer: A pilot study

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to describe the decision-making needs of women with ovarian cancer related to treatment of recurrent disease. Design: A retrospective, cross-sectional needs assessment was conducted. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews and analyzed using content analysis. Results: Thirteen women were recruited. Eleven women did not report difficulty in making the decision. Five women perceived that they had options. Seven had a passive role in the decision. When considering future decisions, nine women preferred a shared or autonomous role; seven wanted to be presented with options. The role of nurses in providing information was emphasized. Conclusions: The findings provide some beginning direction for an inter-professional decision support approach, as well as implications for future research.