Exploring Patient-centred Care for Women with Ductal Carcinoma in situ

Introduction: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients report poor healthcare experiences. Research shows that patient-centred care (PCC) improves healthcare experiences and outcomes. This study explored how to support PCC for DCIS. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to recruit clinicians and DCIS patients. Clinicians were interviewed by telephone and patients by focus groups. Data was collected via qualitative methods. Data was analyzed and described using a 6-domain PCC framework. Findings from clinician and patients were analyzed independently then compared to determine whether PCC was addressed. Results: Forty-six clinicians from six provinces were interviewed. Clinicians reported variability across all 6 PCC domains including how they described DCIS and whether they engaged patients in decision making. Thirty-five women from five provinces reported variable understanding and experiences of communication with clinicians. Overall, all PCC domains were not adequately addressed. Conclusions: Experiences of women with DCIS could be improved by employing developments that support PCC.M.Sc