JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The range of decisions and considerations that women with advanced breast cancer face can be overwhelming and difficult to manage. Research shows that most patients prefer a shared decision-making approach, as it provides them with the opportunity to be actively involved in their treatment decisions. Current engagement of these patients in their clinical decisions is sub-optimal. Moreover, implementing shared decision-making into routine clinical care can be challenging, as patients may not always feel adequately prepared or expect to be involved in the decision-making process.

Objective:

Avalere developed the “Preparation for Shared Decision-Making” tool to help patients with advanced breast cancer feel prepared to communicate with their clinicians and engage in decision making aligned with their preferences. Our goal in this study was to validate the tool for its acceptability and usability among this patient population.

Methods:

We interviewed a diverse group of women with advanced breast cancer (n=30). Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and double-coded with NVivo. We assessed eight themes to understand the acceptability and usability of the tool.

Results:

Interviewees expressed that the tool is acceptable for preparing patients for decision making and would be useful for helping patients know what to expect in their care journey. Interviewees also provided useful comments to improve the tool.

Conclusions:

This validation study confirms the acceptability and usability of the Preparation for Shared Decision-Making tool for women with advanced breast cancer. Future research should assess the feasibility of the tool’s implementation in the clinical workflow and impact on patient outcomes.