Objective: To describe and provide understanding of the attribution factors influencing effective decision-making in cancer patients.
Methods: Selective literature review was undertaken, to explore the effects and the barriers on effective decision-making in cancer patients from Chinese culture, law, system and other aspects.The articles were analysed for themes.
Results: The literature review contributed to information describing the Key factors which might affect effective decision making:
1. Family-related factors：In China，Most family members try to withhold information from patients, and some of them are in charge of the finance in their families.
2.Hospital-related factors：Doctors and hospitals occupied dominated position in the medical seeking process, especially in the famous special cancer centers or local authoritative cancer centers. And the doctor- patient relationship also have some problems.
3.Patient-related factors: The diagnosis of cancer brought the patient a psychological shock ,scared them out of their wits, and make them not able to find solutions rationally.
4.Medical System: The medical insurance system is defective for now. Whether a patient could get timely and effective treatment is largely depend on the choice of the family.
5.Culture: Different from the patient-centered decision-making process in western countries, in the oriental countries decision-making process are more likely to be family-centered decision-making.
6.The Demographics, cancer stage and other factors of cancer patients can also affect their decision-making.
Conclusions: Cancer Patients’ expectation to participate in decision making become stronger and stronger. How to build effective decision-making mechanism and methods fitting Chinese national condition pose a challenge task for medical staff, which need more meticulous studies.