Treatment Decision-making in Patients With Recurrent High-grade Glioma

Recurrent High-grade Glioma: Experiences of Patients and Their Close Relatives During the Treatment Decision-making Process.

This qualitative study explores the lived experience of high-grade glioma patients and their close relatives at time of recurrence. With focus on the decision-making about treatment and care..

High-Grade Glioma is a life-threatening disease that can cause the patient substantial physical, mentally and psychosocially impairment. The life expectancy is short, and a majority of patients experience recurrence of tumour growth. At time of recurrence, the treatment possibilities can include surgery, oncological treatment and/or palliative care.

In this situation the patients and their close relatives need to make a difficult balancing between benefits and trade offs.

Little is known about how the patients and their close relatives experience the recurrence and the decision-making process.

The objective of this study is therefore to explore the perspectives, experiences and needs in patients and their close relatives in relation to the decision-making process at time of recurrence.

Data will be generated through semi-structured interviews. Interviews will be analysed and interpreted using a Ricoeur inspired method of qualitative analysis.

The study is part of a larger PhD-study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The patient is offered surgical treatment (after an assesment done by the multidisciplinary team)
• Able to speak and understand danish
• Able to participate in an interview
• Able to give informed concent for participation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with severe cognitive impairment which prohibits them from either giving informed concent or participating in interview.
• Relatives are excluded if the patient do not give concent for the participation of relatives