Background 

People with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) face difficult treatment decisions that can significantly affect survival, quality of life, and daily functioning. National guidelines recommend shared decision making, a process in which patients and clinicians discuss treatment options, risks, benefits, and patient preferences to determine the best course of care together. However, little is known about how shared decision making occurs in everyday bladder cancer care and whether patients and caregivers receive the support they need. 

What the Study Will Address 

This study will examine how treatment decisions are made for people with MIBC and how patients and caregivers are supported throughout the process. Researchers will interview patients and caregivers about the support they received and any unmet needs, analyze recorded clinical visits to assess how treatment options are discussed and whether patient values and preferences are elicited, and develop a tool to measure whether key components of shared decision making occur during these conversations. 

Why It Matters 

This research will help identify strengths and gaps in communication during bladder cancer treatment decision making. Findings may inform strategies to improve patient-clinician communication, reduce confusion and decision regret, and ensure treatment choices better reflect patients’ values and life goals. Ultimately, this work will lay the foundation for more informed, supportive, and patient-centered bladder cancer care.