Decision-Making Styles and Levels of Involvement Concerning Breast Reconstructive Surgery: An Israeli Study.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To address decision-making styles among breast cancer survivors considering breast reconstruction.
. DESIGN: A primary analysis of a cross-sectional sample among survivors who chose to have breast reconstruction to examine correlations among patient age, decision-making style, and the level of involvement of decision making.
. SETTING: Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel.
. SAMPLE 70 women who had undergone breast reconstruction surgery in the past five years.
. METHODS: Participants completed decision-making style and demographic questionnaires and an assessment of their level of involvement in the decision-making process. 
. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Level of involvement in decision making, decision-making model between provider and patient, and decision-making styles were examined.
. FINDINGS: No correlation was found between four main decision-making styles and patient age or the extent of patient decision-making involvement and age. A statistically significant correlation was found between the level of involvement in decision making and the decision-making style of the patient.
. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses should assess patient decision-making styles to ensure maximum patient involvement in the decision-making process based on personal desires regardless of age.
. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Nurses working in breast cancer care must address the decision-making process of patients diagnosed with breast cancer, including the choice to undergo breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Nurses should understand the complex factors that influence a woman's decision-making style to best help with the decision.