Qualitative Analysis of the Roles of Physicians and Nurses in Providing Decision Support to Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Leukemia and Lymphoma

Introduction This study examined the roles of hematologists and other professionals in providing decision support to patients with relapsed or refractory leukemia and lymphoma. Methods This was a qualitative study using in-depth semi-structured interviews involving 11 hematologists in Japan. Result We identified 7 categories related to the roles of hematologists in providing direct decision support to patients: (1) preparing patients before informed consent, (2) selecting the information to convey, (3) choosing a method for conveying this information, (4) respecting the intentions of patients and their families, (5) directing decision-making and considering fairness, (6) considering the emotional aspects of patients and their families, and (7) providing support after discussing treatment options. We also identified the following 5 subcategories related to the roles of hematologists in multidisciplinary collaboration: (1) communicating with other professionals, (2) gathering information from them, (3) providing information to them, (4) managing the entire medical team, and (5) encouraging nurses to actively participate with patients throughout the decision-making process. Conclusion Through content analysis, the hematologist’s direct role in decision-making was extracted as preparation and consideration in situations where information about decision-making is communicated, and emotional support after the information is communicated. In addition, active participation in discussions, sharing information about the patient’s situation and relevant discussions, and emotional support as the hematologist’s expected roles in other professions were extracted. The results therefore suggest that a multidisciplinary team is needed to share information and provide multidimensional support to patients.