28398629

PMC5544545

Objectives

We examined race/ethnic differences in patient perspectives about their breast cancer treatment experiences.

Methods

A weighted random sample of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013–15 in Los Angeles County and Georgia were sent surveys 2 months after surgery (N=5,080, 70% response rate). The analytic sample was limited to patients in Los Angeles County (N=2,397).

Results

The pattern of visits with different specialists before surgery was similar across race/ethnic groups. Low acculturated Latinas (Latinas-LA) were less likely to report high clinician communication quality for both surgeons and medical oncologists (under 69% vs over 72% for all other groups, p<.05). The proportion of patients who reported high satisfaction about how doctors worked together was similar across race/ethnic groups. Latinas-LA were more likely to have a low autonomy decision style (48% vs 24%–50% for all other groups, p<.001) and were more likely to report getting too much information vs other ethnic groups (20% vs <16% for other groups, p<.001). Patients who reported a low autonomy decision style were more likely to rate amount of information received for the surgery decision as “too much” (16% vs 9%, p<.001).

Conclusions

There is moderate disparity in breast cancer treatment communication and decision making experiences reported by Latinas with low acculturation vs other groups. The approach to treatment decision making by Latinas with low acculturation represents an important challenge to health care providers. Initiatives are needed to improve patient engagement in decision-making and increase clinician awareness of these challenges in this patient population.

CDC Public Access

HHSN261201000140C/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
HHSN261201000035C/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
P01 CA163233/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
U58 DP003875/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States
HHSN261201300015C/RC/CCR NIH HHS/United States
HHSN261201000035I/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
HHSN261201000034C/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
U58 DP003862/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States