Eleanor is a 32-year-old woman recently diagnosed with stage IV cervical cancer. She has learned that it has spread into her bladder and rectum, along with some local lymph nodes. The 5-year survival rate for individuals with this stage of cervical cancer is 17%. Eleanor is married, has three young children, and has a successful career in home design. Eleanor is having a very difficult time with her new diagnosis. She has been admitted to the hospital due to blood loss. The interprofessional team is preparing to discuss treatment plans with Eleanor.

1.

How can the interprofessional team use the first step in the Three-Talk Model of Shared Decision Making, team talk (Figure 6.5), accessible at www.bmj.com/content/bmj/359/bmj.j4891.full.pdf, when approaching Eleanor to discuss her treatment options?

2.

What behaviors could the interprofessional team exhibit that could support and encourage Eleanor’s sense of control over her care?

3.

In the second step of the Three-Talk Model of Shared Decision Making, option talk, what information is important to relay to Eleanor?

4.

What questions should the interprofessional team ask Eleanor to help her arrive at an informed decision in the third step, decision talk, of the Three-Talk Model of Shared Decision Making?

5.

What are some barriers to shared decision-making that the interprofessional team must consider?