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BMC Health Services Research

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Open Access 01-12-2023 | Research

A patient’s perspective on care decisions: a qualitative interview study

Authors: S. Briedé, O. N. Brandwijk, T. C. van Charldorp, H. A. H. Kaasjager

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2023

Abstract

Background and Objectives

Discussing treatment wishes and limitations during medical consultations aims to enable patients to define goals and preferences for future care. Patients and physicians, however, face multiple barriers, resulting in postponing or avoiding the conversation. The aim of this study was to explore an internal medicine outpatient clinic population’s perception on (discussing) treatment wishes and limitations.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted in two rounds with 44 internal medicine outpatient clinic patients at the University Medical Centre Utrecht, a tertiary care teaching medical centre in the Netherlands. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed with a phenomenological approach and inductive, data-driven coding.

Results

Four themes were identified, two (1–2) represent a deep conviction, two (3–4) are practically oriented: (1) patients associate treatment wishes and limitations with the end-of-life, making it sensitive and currently irrelevant, (2) patients assume this process leads to fixed choices, whilst their wishes might be situation dependent, (3) treatment wishes and limitations are about balancing whether a treatment ‘is worth it’, in which several subthemes carry weight, (4) the physician is assigned a key role.

Conclusion and practice implications

The themes provide starting points for future interventions. It should be emphasized that care decisions are a continuous, dynamic process, relevant at any time in any circumstance and the physician should be aware of his/her key role.

Available only for authorised users

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Title: A patient’s perspective on care decisions: a qualitative interview study
Authors: S. Briedé
O. N. Brandwijk
T. C. van Charldorp
H. A. H. Kaasjager
Publication date: 01-12-2023
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10342-9

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

A patient’s perspective on care decisions: a qualitative interview study

Abstract

Background and Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion and practice implications

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background and Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion and practice implications

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