Qualitative

Research
An article summary

Patient Perspectives on
Molecular Tumor
Profiling: “Why Wouldn’t
You?”

Megan C. Best, Nicole Bartley, Chris

Jacobs, Ilona Juraskova, David
Goldstein, Ainsley J. Newson,
Jacqueline Savard, Bettina Meiser,
Mandy Ballinger, Christine Napier,
David Thomas, Barbara Biesecker,
Phyllis Butow & Members of the
PiGeOn Project

Husnain Ali
 SUMMARY

The article "Patient perspectives on molecular tumour profiling: ‘Why wouldn’t you?’"
was published in BMC Cancer in 2019. It aimed to explore patient perspectives on
molecular tumour profiling (MTP). MTP is a diagnostic tool that analyses the genetic
makeup of a tumour. The authors conducted a qualitative study using thematic analysis
as a research tool. They conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 patients who had
undergone MTP for their cancer treatment and analysed the data using a thematic
analysis approach. The interviews were open-ended and allowed patients to share their
experiences, thoughts, and feelings about MTP in their own words. The study found
that patients had positive perceptions of MTP and believed that it provided valuable
information for their treatment decision-making. They felt that MTP helped them to
understand their cancer better and enabled personalised treatment plans that were more
effective than standard treatment options. Patients also reported feeling empowered by
the information MTP provided and more involved in their treatment decisions. The
thematic analysis approach allowed the authors to identify common themes in the
patient interviews, such as the perceived value of MTP, the emotional impact of the
results, and the need for patient education and support. The study's qualitative nature
allowed for an in-depth exploration of patient experiences and perspectives on MTP,
providing valuable insights for healthcare professionals and researchers. Overall, the
study highlights the positive impact of MTP on patient empowerment, treatment
decision-making, and personalised treatment planning.

Work Cited
Best, M.C., Bartley, N., Jacobs, C., Juraskova, I., Goldstein, D., Newson, A.J.,
Savard, J., Meiser, B., Ballinger, M., Napier, C., Thomas, D., Biesecker, B.,
Butow, P., Tucker, K., Schlub, T., Vines, R., Vines, K., Kirk, J., Young, M.-
A., Members of the PiGeOn Project, 2019. Patient perspectives on molecular
tumor profiling: “Why wouldn’t you?” BMC Cancer 19, 753.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-019-5920-x