ArticleAnnals of surgery2025
"What's a Win": A Qualitative Study Exploring Surgeon Perspectives on Operative Intent in Non-curative Cancer Surgery.
Article in Annals of surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- New Paradigms of Cancer Require New Language: A Qualitative Study Exploring Language for Non-Curative Non-Palliative Cancer Surgery.Journal of surgical oncology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTo explore surgeons' perspectives on and priorities for communicating about non-curative operations for patients with advanced cancers, which aim to improve longevity or quality of life without possibility of cure. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Describing the potential benefits of non-curative surgery is important so that treatment decisions are based on an accurate understanding of what surgery can achieve. However, surgeons' perspectives on and practices for communicating non-curative operative intent with patients are not known.
methodsThis qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with cancer surgeons who were recruited throughout the U.S. through purposive and snowball sampling. Interviews included discussions around two case scenarios describing non-curative operations. We explored participants' perspectives and communication preferences through the scenarios. Thematic analysis was completed using an inductive approach.
resultsWe interviewed 18 surgeons from 16 institutions with varying years of practice. Surgeons framed the overarching goal of non-curative surgery as preventing disease progression, with the more specific goals of living longer and living better. Additionally, participants underscored the prognostic uncertainty about the disease trajectory of advanced cancer, compounded by limited evidence to guide decisions about non-curative surgery. This uncertainty informs surgeons' communication priorities to 1) clarify treatment intent and 2) disclose their uncertainty, ultimately aiming to establish alignment with their patients.
conclusionsThis study delineated an existing paradigm for discussing the goals of non-curative surgery for advanced cancer, and also highlighted the role that prognostic uncertainty plays in cancer surgeons' communication practices.
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