Patients' preferences in non-curable cancer disease

Abstract

Eliciting and integrating patients' preferences in decision-making in palliative oncology is an important criterion for the quality of end-of-life care. It is an essential prerequisite in supporting the integrity of patients' decision-making process, enhancing patients' right to self-determination and facilitating patients' autonomy. In this review we summarize the data on: (1) patients' preference for a decisional model in advanced cancer, (2) patients' preferences for quality versus length of life and the enrollment of patients in early-phase clinical studies, and (3) preferences for caregiver involvement in decision-making. Timely assessment of patients' preferences enables advance care planning with respect to considering patients' values, discussing therapy goals and planning for patients' end-of-life care. It helps avoiding overtreatment near the end of life and giving care that is aligned to patients' wishes and family capacities.