Abstract

Abstract:
Patient-centred decision-making is a crucial component of providing the best possible cancer care. Patients must be provided with sufficient information to participate in decision-making (Herrmann et al., 2019). According to Sawka et al. (2012), involvement in this decision reduced feelings of regret regarding the choice of treatment path among thyroid cancer patients. However, patients have only sometimes felt involved in decision-making (Herrmann et al., 2019). The study aimed to capture the lived experiences of people with thyroid cancer, including the experiences of treatment. Thyroid cancer is a rare disease and an under-researched area, especially in the qualitative paradigm.
Twenty-five people diagnosed with well-differentiated thyroid cancer within eight weeks to five years of initial diagnosis were recruited from one UK cancer centre at the NHS Trust and from a relevant registered UK charity. The primary data collection method consists of semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Participants were interviewed up to three times throughout their treatment in 2019-2020. Data was analysed through descriptive phenomenological analysis (Georgi, 2009).
The study results established that not all participants knew they could make decisions about their care. Many of the participants were happy with the information that they were provided. However, some felt that it was not provided in a timely manner and was not specific enough to thyroid cancer. Specific topics on which they would have liked more information were the impact of thyroidectomy and the long-term physical and psychological impacts of the different treatments.
Filling in gaps in information provision could empower and enable patients to participate in treatment decision-making. A specialist nurse's involvement and the information and support provided by relevant charities may ensure that all thyroid cancer patients receive comprehensive advice in a timely manner to give them the required knowledge and confidence in making decisions.