Brief Description of the Situation
The patient scenario I witnessed is about this particular patient diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. After being diagnosed, patient N was overwhelmed and concerned about the treatments available for her condition. Since the medical team recognized the importance of involving patients in their treatment decision-making process, they scheduled a meeting with her. During the meeting, the team offered two treatment options for patient N: a full mastectomy or lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy(Admoun et al., 2021). She was offered details about the potential benefits, risks, and side effects to expect from the options.
Effect of Patient Preferences, Social Determinants, and Values
Incorporating patient preferences, social determinants, and values in patient N significantly impacted her satisfaction. According to Kon et al. (2016), healthcare professionals must adopt a shared decision-making model that considers patient needs and preferences to enhance outcomes. Patient N expressed her deep concern about keeping her body image and quality of life after finishing the cancer treatment, and how it might affect her middle-class family’s income. Her preferences and values implied that she wanted a treatment option to preserve her breast. Therefore, by engaging patient N in deciding her treatment options, her preferences were taken into account in designing a care plan.
Effect of Including Patient Preferences, Social Determinants, and Values
When the medical team considered patient N’s preferences, social determinants, and values, they recommended a treatment combination of radiation therapy and lumpectomy. As Schroy III et al. (2014) note, professionals had to explain to the patient the success rate of the chosen treatment, taking into account her preferences, social determinants, and values. They discussed with Patient N the need for family support throughout the process.
Value of Patient Decision Aid
The patient decision aid I used in this scenario significantly ensured that providers and patients shared in the decision-making process. The patient decision aid provided patient N with detailed information about the treatment options available for her condition, which helped her make a clear decision based on her preferences, social determinants, and values. This decision aid improved the patient’s decision quality and reduced decisional conflict. As a healthcare professional, I would integrate patient decision aids to provide patient-centered care. In my personal life, I will use it to decide about my treatment or for those I love.
References
Admoun, C., Mayrovitz, H., & Mayrovitz, H. (2021). Choosing mastectomy vs. lumpectomy-with-radiation: Experiences of breast cancer survivors. Cureus, 13(10).
Kon, A. A., Davidson, J. E., Morrison, W., Danis, M., & White, D. (2016). Shared decision-making in intensive care units. Executive summary of the American College of Critical Care Medicine and American Thoracic Society policy statement. American Journal of Respiratory And Critical Care Medicine, 193(12), 1334-1336.
Schroy III, P. C., Mylvaganam, S., & Davidson, P. (2014). Provider perspectives on the utility of a colorectal cancer screening decision aid for facilitating shared decision making. Health Expectations, 17(1), 27-35.
