ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD TO DEVELOP A VALUES ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR WOMEN WITH METASTATIC BREAST CANCER.

Significance & Background: Women with meta- static breast cancer face complex treatment decisions requiring the alignment between clinical evidence and personal values or expectations. Existing decision-support tools often fail to reflect the diverse experiences and cultural contexts of patients acc...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Oncology Nursing Forum Vol. 53; no. 2; p. 311
Autores principales: Anderson, Danielle Steele, Crowder, Victoria, Miller, Juanita, Walker, Stephanie
Formato: Journal Article
Publicado: Oncology Nursing Society Mar2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:Significance & Background: Women with meta- static breast cancer face complex treatment decisions requiring the alignment between clinical evidence and personal values or expectations. Existing decision-support tools often fail to reflect the diverse experiences and cultural contexts of patients accurately. Community engagement approaches, such as community advisory boards (CABs), can ensure that tools are patient-centered and relevant. Purpose: To describe the role of a CAB in refining the Values Assessment Tool (VAsT), a decision-support tool created for women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Interventions: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women living with metastatic breast cancer. The CAB, consisting of women with metastatic breast cancer, a care partner, and breast oncology clinicians, met monthly to review domains generated from interview analysis. Feedback was incorporated to improve the content, inclusivity, and usability of the tool. Results: CAB engagement is leading to refinement of language for clarity and accessibility, with the possibility of adding domains such as sexuality, minimizing time in medical settings, and maintaining financial stability being identified for incorporation. CAB members emphasized the importance of cultural representation and real-world applicability, which led to modifications in terminology and framing. Monthly discussions ensure that the VAsT reflects multidimensional values shaping treatment decisions for women with metastatic breast cancer. Discussion: The CAB-guided process strengthened the cultural and clinical relevance of the VAsT. Partnering with patients and care partners improved the tool's inclusivity and ensured it represented the real-life experiences of women with metastatic breast cancer. Nurses can play a critical role in integrating patient values into treatment planning. CAB-guided tools like VAsT can facilitate more equitable and inclusive communication in oncology settings. Engaging patients and caregivers in research fosters trust, improves tool usability, and advances patient-centered care.