Dr Gill on the Rationale for Surveying Patients With mCRC About Treatment Decision-Making

“What we want to better understand is: How do patients interpret those data, and what kind of factors influence their treatment decision-making? Knowledge of that not only acknowledges the patient journey and the patient experience, but also helps us to better understand how to communicate information to a patient when we’re in that time of trying to make a decision about next options for treatment and what factors the patients [are] considering, in addition to what we as providers think are important."

Sharlene Gill, BScPharm, MD, MPH, MBA, FRCPC, a professor of the Faculty of Medicine in the Department of Medicine at The University of British Columbia Division of Medical Oncology, discussed the rationale for conducting a study of patients’ treatment experiences and involvement in treatment decision-making regarding their metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) care. 

An important aspect of cancer drug development involves understanding how patients interpret clinical trial data and what factors influence their treatment-related decision making, Gill began. Gaining insight into these perspectives validates the patient experience and acknowledges the complexity of their treatment journey, as well as informs how oncologists can most effectively communicate information during discussions regarding subsequent lines of therapy, she explained. In practice, mCRC treatment decisions are not guided solely by clinical parameters considered important by oncologists; patients incorporate a range of personal values and concerns into their decision-making process, she said. This underscores the importance of shared decision-making, where care teams—beyond the oncologist alone—actively engage with patients to identify their preferences and priorities, she emphasized. A central component of this approach is explicitly asking patients what matters most to them in the context of their care, she added.

For example, some patients may express significant worry about becoming a burden on their family, Gill shared. Proactively addressing this concern by identifying available resources and supports can help mitigate that anxiety and prevent patients from feeling entirely dependent on family members, she noted. By directly acknowledging these concerns within the consultation, oncologists can reduce uncertainty and avoid situations where patients leave the clinical encounter with unresolved questions or unspoken fears, she stated.