Exploring how patients and surgeons communicate about low-value surgical options
Official title: Understanding patient-surgeon interactions to support deimplementation of preference-sensitive low value care
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11067753 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how breast cancer patients and their surgeons talk about surgery options, especially those that might not be very helpful, to find ways to improve communication and help patients make better choices about their treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | April 5, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $218,090 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA283601-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11067753 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are breast cancer patients, particularly women aged 70 and older, who are considering surgical options that may be deemed low-value.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not considering surgery or those who do not have breast cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the interactions between breast cancer patients and surgeons to understand how decisions are made regarding certain surgical procedures that may not provide significant benefits. It focuses on procedures like sentinel lymph node biopsy for older women and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, which have been identified as low-value by medical guidelines. By analyzing conversations during surgical consultations, the study aims to identify factors that influence patient decisions and how surgeons can better support patients in making informed choices. The goal is to improve communication and potentially reduce the use of these low-value surgeries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better patient-surgeon communication and reduce unnecessary surgical procedures, improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in improving patient outcomes through enhanced communication strategies in surgical settings, indicating that this approach may also be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Neuman, Heather B — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Neuman, Heather B
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.