Study Personnel

Principal Investigators: Anees Chagpar, M.D., Jamie L. Studts, Ph.D., Kelly McMasters, M.D.

Study Coordinator: S. Denise Thomas

Graduate Students: N/A

Study Synopsis

Due to the wide array of treatment options for breast cancer, treatment decisions have become increasingly challenging and complex. In addition to the trend of providing more comprehensive information to women regarding options for breast cancer care, a movement toward women playing a greater role in selecting their own treatment regimen has emerged. Research in this area has shown that women tend to have improved psychosocial outcomes when they have played a more significant role in determining the types of treatments they will receive.

Unfortunately, very little research has been conducted to clarify the factors that influence a patient’s decision to take adjuvant chemotherapy, yet, numerous methods, called decision aids, have been developed to facilitate the decision-making process. Without basic behavioral science research and theoretical development, the development of decision aids is somewhat premature.

The primary aim in this series of studies is to describe preferences for methods of presenting quantitative risk and benefit information regarding adjuvant chemotherapy for primary breast cancer (i.e., Relative Risk Reduction, Absolute Risk Reduction, Absolute Survival Benefit, and Number Needed to Treat). Understanding how women make this adjuvant treatment decision will aid the identification and development of strategies to communicate necessary information efficiently and to facilitate treatment decision-making.