Clues When Family Members of Patients With Malignant Brain Tumors Make Proxy Decisions—Focusing on Choices Related to Treatment Options and Caregiving Lifestyles—

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to clarify what clues family members of patients with malignant brain tumors relied on when making proxy decisions regarding treatment options and caregiving lifestyles.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven family members of patients with malignant brain tumors to analyze the clues used during decision-making regarding “treatment options” and “caregiving lifestyles.”

Results: Six themes were generated for clues used in decision-making about “treatment options,” and seven themes were generated for clues used in decision-making about “caregiving lifestyles.” The characteristics of these clues included patient’s past statements, inferred patient preferences from various reactions, family values, employment and roles, and the patient’s expressed thoughts drawn out by the family.

Conclusion: Nurses involved in proxy decision-making for family members of patients with malignant brain tumors should start identifying clues from the patient’s early stages of onset, share them within the team, and provide clues that lead to supportive actions by the family.