COT-15 LITERATURE REVIEW ON THE DECISION MAKING OF THE BRAIN TUMOR PATIENT

BACKGROUND: Patients with primary brain tumors find it difficult to make decisions during the advanced disease stage and experience decreased consciousness. It is important for patients to receive supported decision-making early. Medical staff should know what to do and when to do it,but there are no clear guidelines. Therefore,we reviewed the literature for supported decision-making for primary brain tumor patients,particularly to provide information for understanding trends reported in previous research. METHOD: On January 1,2019,we conducted a search using keywords,such as “brain tumor”and “decision-making,” via PubMed and “Igakuchuo-zashi” in Japan. We extracted literature about treatment decision support and end-of-life care for patients with primary brain tumors. Furthermore,we studied and chose the documents for information provision. RESULT: Upon observing 7 studies,we found: 1) about 50% of the patients want more prognostic information; 2) patients with brain tumor tend to be anxious,but they want more information to develop a good understanding of the disease and to lower their anxiety; 3) about half of the brain tumor patients in end-of-life care are unable to make decisions sooner owing to impaired consciousness,and hence are unable to share treatment preferences with their doctors; 4) when medical professionals provide information,such as adding video tools about end-of-life care to oral explanations,it facilitates supported decision-making; and 5) when the caregiver intends to notify patients,the family feels conflicted. DISCUSSION: The results suggested that if the timing of the end-of-life conversation is late,it becomes difficult for the patient to make decisions and the burden of decision-making falls on the family. It is necessary to examine effective supported decision-making tools for patients by assessing and comprehending information needs and anxiety levels of primary brain tumor patients.