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Cancer Survivorship and Care / Breast Cancer Treatment Studies · Journal article
BMC Cancer · September 10, 2026
Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.
This is a descriptive survey of oncologist and postmenopausal patient perspectives on shared decision-making and communication in HR+/HER2− advanced breast cancer across three European countries. The study documents discrepancies between patients and clinicians on involvement in treatment choice, knowledge of targeted therapies, and discussion of efficacy versus side effects, but does not test an intervention or measure clinical outcomes.
Quantitative cross-sectional survey. Postmenopausal women and men with HR+/HER2− locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, and oncologists treating these patients, in France, Italy, and Spain.. Intervention: No intervention tested; descriptive survey of perspectives.. France, Italy, and Spain.
Most patients (< 69%) were willing to undergo biopsy testing and try targeted therapies, although 76% reported limited knowledge about targeted therapies. 68% of patients wanted full involvement in SDM and 20% partial involvement; 56% preferred family participation. Many physicians (79%) involved patients and families/caregivers in decision-making, but over 78% of physicians valued psychological and nursing support.
Both groups prioritized overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) when choosing treatment; patients additionally prioritized treatment-related side effects. Physicians shared information on safety and expected adverse events less on efficacy outcomes; both groups preferred oral treatments.
This survey documents communication gaps between patients and oncologists regarding treatment knowledge, shared decision-making involvement, and discussion of efficacy versus adverse events. Clinicians should recognize patient preferences for full involvement in decisions and their emphasis on side effects, and consider enhanced communication about targeted therapy effectiveness and structured involvement of psychological and nursing support.
A descriptive cross-sectional survey of patient and clinician perspectives on communication and decision-making in advanced breast cancer, without a control group, randomisation, or hard clinical outcomes; it identifies discrepancies and unmet needs but does not test an intervention or establish causal effects.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
This survey documents communication gaps between patients and oncologists regarding treatment knowledge, shared decision-making involvement, and discussion of efficacy versus adverse events. Clinicians should recognize patient preferences for full involvement in decisions and their emphasis on side effects, and consider enhanced communication about targeted therapy effectiveness and structured involvement of psychological and nursing support.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Hormone receptor–positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) breast cancer (BC) represents approximately 70% of all cases. In locally advanced or metastatic stages (laBC/mBC), patients’ quality of life (QoL) often worsens, making shared decision-making (SDM) and patient-centered care crucial. Discrepancies persist between patients and oncologists regarding SDM, communication about treatment and adverse events (AEs). This study explores both perspectives to identify unmet needs and priorities in HR+/HER2 − laBC/mBC care. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the perspectives of oncologists and postmenopausal women and men with HR+/HER2 − laBC/mBC in France, Italy, and Spain on patients’ knowledge and interest in targeted therapies; SDM; treatment choice and communication about efficacy and side effects; recognition of AEs (i.e., patient-reported symptoms and clinically detected findings) impacting QoL; and preferences regarding the mode of treatment administration. Most patients (< 69%) were willing to undergo biopsy testing and try targeted therapies, although 76% reported limited knowledge about these therapies. The majority of patients wanted full (68%) or partial (20%) involvement in SDM, and 56% also preferred family participation, while few chose psychologists (9%) or nurses (6%, mostly in France). Many physicians (79%) involved patients and families/caregivers (especially in Italy and Spain), but over 78% valued psychological and nursing support. Both groups prioritized overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) when choosing treatment options; patients additionally valued treatment-related side effects as a priority during treatment’s choice. Oncologists shared information on safety and expected AEs, less on efficacy outcomes. Physicians identified gastrointestinal AEs as most impactful on QoL, although experienced by few patients. Both groups preferred oral treatments, patients for home convenience, and clinicians for fewer clinic visits. The survey highlighted the need to improve communication about targeted therapies, treatment effectiveness, and AEs. Differences across countries emerged, and greater discussion of nursing and psychological support in SDM is warranted.
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