Patients more Likely to Prefer Surgery to Novel Photodynamic Therapy

Zoe L Dixon, Anthony J Dixo

Abstract

Objective: To compare preferences with patients who have undergone both facial skin cancer surgery and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Design: A survey of patients who had undergone both PDT and surgery to their face. Setting: Referral skin cancer centre in Australia Protocol: 34 patients had undergone both PDT and surgery to their face. They were asked which they would choose next time if given both options and why. Main outcome measure(s): Patient preference of the two treatments Results: Of the 34 PDT patients, 17 preferred surgery if future treatment was needed, whilst 6 preferred PDT, (p<0.01). Prolonged post procedural pain was the most frequent explanation provided for preferring surgery. Discussion and conclusions: Clinicians should not assume that surgery is less favoured by patients over alternate interventions. Prolonged pain following PDT was a frequent reason not to prefer future PDT treatments.