Treatment Decision-Making Among Patients Diagnosed With Papillary Microcarcinoma and Their Significant Others

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Papillary Microcarcinoma; Thyroid Cancer

Treatments: Behavioral: Focus groups

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01392222

11-108

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to understand more about why some patients choose to have surgery to treat their papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) and others choose to have their papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) regularly watched by their doctor to see if and when they may need surgery (referred to as "active surveillance"). The investigators also hope learn more about what patients and their family members worry about or feel they will gain from surgery or active surveillance.

Enrollment: 21 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Thyroid cancer patient eligibility will include:

• Thyroid cancer patients who have been diagnosed with papillary microcarcinoma (or subcentimeter thyroid lesions with fine needle aspiration biopsy suspicious for papillary or follicular thyroid cancer) within the prior 6-12 months as per EMR path report and clinician assessment;
• Presented with the option of treating their papillary microcarcinomas with either surgery or active surveillance as per treating physician;
• English-fluent;
• 18 years of age or older;

Patient-designated significant other eligibility will include:

• Nomination by patient as individual who assisted patient in decision-making regarding how to treat thyroid papillary microcarcinoma;
• English-fluent;
• 18 years of age or older;

Exclusion criteria

Thyroid cancer patient exclusion criteria will include:

• Thyroid cancer patients with known loco-regional or distant metastases prior to initial surgical intervention as per path report.

Trial design

21 participants in 2 patient groups

patients who have had surgery or have scheduled surgery

Description:

In this exploratory study we will conduct focus groups and individual interviews with two population segments according to the established methodology of Krueger and Casey \[13\] and Morgan \[14\]. We will conduct 4-6 focus groups, two to three within each population segment, to evaluate the process of decision-making to manage papillary microcarcinoma, factors that influenced decision-making, understanding of risk for recurrence and other negative outcomes due to thyroid cancer, information needed to make informed decisions, and what could influence thyroid cancer patients who have had surgery or have scheduled to have surgery to remove their papillary microcarcinomas to consider active surveillance. Individual interviews will be offered and conducted as needed for those patients who are unable to attend a focus group due to scheduling conflicts or other reasons.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Focus groups

Behavioral: Focus groups

who chose to not have immediate surgery

Description:

In this exploratory study we will conduct focus groups with two population segments according to the established methodology of Krueger and Casey \[13\] and Morgan \[14\]. We will conduct 4-6 focus groups, two to three within each population segment, to evaluate the process of decision-making to manage papillary microcarcinoma, factors that influenced decision-making, understanding of risk for recurrence and other negative outcomes due to thyroid cancer, information needed to make informed decisions, and what could influence thyroid cancer patients who have had surgery or have scheduled to have surgery to remove their papillary microcarcinomas to consider active surveillance. Individual interviews will be offered and conducted as needed for those patients who are unable to attend a focus group due to scheduling conflicts or other reasons.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Focus groups

Behavioral: Focus groups