The Role of the Physician in the Shared Decision-Making Process

The panel emphasized the critical importance of shared decision-making with patients, particularly when navigating complex treatment choices in lung cancer. A patient’s voice at a recent World Conference on Lung Cancer conference underscored the need for clear communication about therapy impacts on quality of life. Physicians agreed that these conversations must be tailored to individual patients’ understanding, values, and life circumstances. It’s not simply a choice between A or B, but a guided dialogue to help patients make informed decisions that align with their personal goals and priorities.

Clinicians shared how they approach these discussions in practice, highlighting the need to build relationships over time, provide written information, and revisit decisions rather than rushing at the initial diagnosis. Patient factors such as age, family responsibilities, work, and proximity to care all influence preferences for treatment regimens, especially around the burden of chemotherapy visits versusvs oral therapies. Recognizing the psychological and emotional toll of a cancer diagnosis, some physicians described strategies likesuch as starting patients on oral targeted therapies initially to improve symptoms and ease them into more intensive treatments likesuch as chemotherapy once they are feeling better.

The panel agreed that it is vital not to make assumptions about patients’ values or capacity to tolerate treatments. Instead, listening carefully and having ongoing conversations allows for personalized care. While clinicians strive to inform patients that effective and generally well-tolerated therapies exist, they also acknowledge the importance of giving patients time to process information and engage family support. This approach balances timely initiation of therapy with respect for patient autonomy and psychological well-being, aiming to optimize both outcomes and quality of life.