Preoperative Decision-Making in Patients With Pulmonary Nodules Suspected of Lung Cancer

Patients with pulmonary nodules that are highly suspected to be lung cancer often need to make important treatment decisions before a definite pathological diagnosis is available. These decisions may include whether to undergo surgery, whether to continue follow-up, whether to have further diagnostic tests, and how to understand the potential benefits and risks of different management options.

This prospective observational study aims to describe the preoperative decision-making status of adult patients with pulmonary nodules suspected of lung cancer. The study will assess patients' decision self-efficacy, decisional conflict, shared decision-making experience, and decision regret using standardized questionnaires. It will also explore factors associated with better or worse decision quality, such as demographic characteristics, clinical information, health literacy, doctor-patient communication, family involvement, and emotional status.

No treatment or intervention will be assigned by the study. Participants will receive routine clinical care, and study data will be collected mainly through questionnaires before surgery or during the preoperative period. The findings may help clinicians identify patients who need additional decision support and improve communication during preoperative decision-making for suspected lung cancer.