Improving shared decision making in malignant bowel obstruction

An exploration of context-specific treatment pathways and experiences to inform intervention development for person-centred care

About one in six people with cancer experience a block in their intestines caused by a tumour. This stops people eating and drinking and causes severe pain, nausea and vomiting. Making decisions about treatment can be difficult as there are no nationally agreed guidelines. 

This research programme will review existing evidence to guide an interview study with patients, their caregivers and clinicians, looking at how to make treatment decisions together to address this problem.

The last stage of the project will involve developing patient and caregiver information and online clinical training to ensure that decision-making happens in a way that suits each individual patient.