“They were aware of who I was as a person”: Patients’ and health professionals’ experiences of using the PEGASUS intervention to facilitate decision-making around breast reconstruction

Tollow, Philippa; Paraskeva, Nicole; Clarke, Alex; White, Paul; Powell, Jane; Cox, Danielle; Harcourt, Diana

Abstract

Objective: Many women choose to have breast reconstruction after mastectomy, however, decision-making can be difficult and expectations are often unmet. The PEGASUS intervention (Patient Expectations and Goals: Assisting Shared Understanding of Surgery) was developed to support shared decision-making by helping women and healthcare professionals to clarify and discuss their individual expectations around surgery. This study aimed to explore patients’ and health professionals’ experiences of using the intervention and its implementation. Methods: Forty interviews were conducted with participants in a large scale, multi-site trial of the effectiveness of PEGASUS, from ‘intervention’ (n=16) and ‘usual care’ groups (n=11), and healthcare professionals (n=13). Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: ‘Usual care’ participants described feeling overwhelmed in decision-making (‘bombarded’), often using their own research to break down information (‘process of elimination’). In contrast, intervention group participants described PEGASUS providing focus (‘focus amongst the frenetic’), and increased connection with clinicians (‘more than a number’). Healthcare professionals described increased focus on patient priorities (‘shifting focus’), but stressed the need for whole team buy-in (‘collective commitment’). Conclusions: The PEGASUS intervention offered a qualitatively different experience to individuals considering breast reconstruction, with potential to enhance patients’ and healthcare professionals’ feelings of shared decision-making and patient-centred care.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 5, 2021
• Online Publication Date: May 24, 2021
• Deposit Date: May 5, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 4, 2021
• Journal: European Journal of Cancer Care
• Print ISSN: 0961-5423
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2354
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Article Number: e13464
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.13464
• Keywords: breast cancer, breast reconstruction, mastectomy, patient-centred care, qualitative research, shared decision-making
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7338682