Treatment decision making in advanced cancer: Communication about patient values and preferences.

6606 Background: Medical decision making profoundly influences the quality of life of advanced cancer patients and, hence, strongly depends on patients’ values and preferences. This observational study examines the type of values and preferences patients express in treatment decision consultations and how medical oncologists invite and react to such expressions. Methods: Advanced cancer patients for whom undergoing systemic treatment is medically not self-evident were identified. Patients (n = 43) were included when they met with a medical oncologist (n = 13) for the first time or to evaluate current treatment. Either one or two consultations were taped (total n = 64). Verbatim transcripts were analysed using MAXqda10 software. Independent coders identified and categorised patient expressions of values or preferences. Oncologists’ utterances preceding or following such expressions were coded. Results: Preliminary analysis (n = 20; 31%) shows that patient expressions of values and preferences were more fre...