Disparities in the survivorship experience among Latina survivors of breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The authors investigated disparities in the survivorship experience among Latinas with breast cancer (BC) in comparison with non-Latinas. METHODS: A cross-sectional bilingual telephone survey was conducted among 212 Latina and non-Latina women within 10 to 24 months after a diagnosis of BC (AJCC TNM staging system stage 0-III) at 2 Los Angeles County public hospitals. Data were collected using the Preparing for Life as a (New) Survivor (PLANS) scale, Perceived Efficacy in Patient-Physician Interactions Questionnaire (PEPPI), Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (BCPT) Symptom Checklist, Satisfaction with Care and Information Scale, Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) tool, Charlson Comorbidity Index adapted for patient self-report, and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey. Controlling variables included age, stage as determined by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging system, educational level, and study site in multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The mean ages of Latinas and non-Latinas were 51.5 years and 56.6 years, respectively. Compared with non-Latinas, Latinas reported less BC survivorship knowledge (27.3 vs 30.7; P<.0001), were more dissatisfied with BC care information (2.3 vs 3.4; P<.0001), reported lower PEPPI scores (38.2 vs 42.2; P = .03), and experienced more BCPT symptoms (6.4 vs 5.0; P = .04). No differences were noted regarding their confidence in survivorship care preparedness (42.7 vs 41; P = .191), satisfaction with BC survivorship care (9.6 vs 8.8; P = .298), or their discussion with physicians (9.6 vs 8.1; P = .07). These ethnic group differences persisted in multivariate analyses, with the exception of PEPPI. CONCLUSIONS: Latina survivors of BC experienced disparities in BC knowledge and satisfaction with information received, but believed themselves to be prepared for survivorship and were as satisfied with providers, care received, and discussions with physicians as non-Latinas. Cancer 2018;124:2373-80. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

Quality of life over 5 years after a breast cancer diagnosis among low-income women: effects of race/ethnicity and patient-physician communication.

BACKGROUND: The current study was performed to identify risk factors for a lower quality of life (QOL) among low-income women with breast cancer (BC), with an emphasis on the impact of patient-physician communication. In addition, ethnic/racial group differences in QOL changes over time were examined. METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted among 921 low-income women with BC. Patients were interviewed at 6 months, 18 months, 36 months, and 60 months after their diagnosis of BC. Mixed-effect regression models were performed to investigate predictors for and time effects on QOL. The main outcomes included the Medical Outcomes Study Health Survey Short Form-36 Mental Component Summary scale (SF-36 MCS), Medical Outcomes Study Health Survey Short Form-36 Physical Component Summary scale (SF-36 PCS), and the Ladder of Life scale. Chief independent variables included physician information-giving and patient self-efficacy in interacting with physicians. RESULTS: There were no significant changes noted over time in QOL except with regard to physical functioning, with survivors reporting a significant decrease over time (P<.0001). Mean SF-36 MCS and SF-36 PCS scores were lower than national general population norms at all time points. Both patient self-efficacy in interacting with physicians and physician information-giving were found to be positively associated with the SF-36 MCS (P = .03 and P = .02, respectively) and Ladder of Life (P = .01 and P = .03, respectively) scales. Latinas who were less acculturated reported higher SF-36 MCS and SF-36 PCS scores (P<.0001 and P = .01, respectively) and better global QOL (P<.0001) than white women. CONCLUSIONS: Low-income women with BC experienced poor physical and mental health. The results of the current study suggest that QOL among low-income women with BC would be enhanced by interventions aimed at empowering patients in communicating with physicians and increasing the amount of information provided by physicians.

Adjuvant chemotherapy dosing in low-income women: the impact of Hispanic ethnicity and patient self-efficacy.

Unwarranted breast cancer adjuvant chemotherapy dose reductions have been documented in black women, women of lower socioeconomic status, and those who are obese. No information on the quality of chemotherapy is available in Hispanic women. The purpose of this study was to characterize factors associated with first cycle chemotherapy dose selection in a multi-ethnic sample of low-income women receiving chemotherapy through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention Treatment Program (BCCPT) and to investigate the impact of Hispanic ethnicity and patient self-efficacy on adjuvant chemotherapy dose selection. Survey and chemotherapy information were obtained from consenting participants enrolled in the California BCCPT. Analyses identified clinical and non-clinical factors associated with first cycle chemotherapy doses less than 90 % of expected doses. Of 552 patients who received chemotherapy, 397 (72 %) were eligible for inclusion. First cycle dose reductions were given to 14 % of the sample. In multivariate analyses, increasing body mass index and non-academic treatment site were associated with doses below 90 % of the expected doses. No other clinical or non-clinical factors, including ethnicity, were associated with first cycle doses selection. In this universally low-income sample, we identified no association between Hispanic ethnicity and other non-clinical patient factors, including patient self-efficacy, in chemotherapy dose selection. As seen in other studies, obesity was associated with systematic dose limits. The guidelines on chemotherapy dose selection in the obese may help address such dose reductions. A greater understanding of the association between type of treatment site and dose selection is warranted. Overall, access to adequate health care allows the vast majority of low-income women with breast cancer to receive high-quality breast cancer chemotherapy.

Early predictors of not returning to work in low-income breast cancer survivors: a 5-year longitudinal study.

Low-income women may be especially vulnerable to job loss after a breast cancer diagnosis. The identification of early risk factors for not returning to work in the long term could inform interventions to help survivors avoid this outcome. A consecutive sample of low-income, employed, underinsured/uninsured women treated for stage 0-III breast cancer was surveyed 6, 18, 36, and 60 months after diagnosis. Participants were classified according to the survey in which they first reported return to work. If they were not working in every survey they were classified as not returning to work. Correlates of not returning to work were identified. Of 274 participants, 36 % returned to work by 6 months, an additional 21 % by 18, 10 % by 36, and 5 % by 60 months. 27 % never returned to work. Of those not working at 6 months, 43 % never returned. Independent predictors of never returning to work included lowest annual income (<$10,000), Latina ethnicity, high comorbidity burden, and receipt of chemotherapy. Very poor women who stop working during chemotherapy for breast cancer are at risk of not returning to work months and years following treatment. These findings may have clinical and policy implications. Conversely, radiation therapy, axillary node dissection, age, and job type do not appear to be associated with return to work. Clinicians should discuss work-related concerns with patients and facilitate early return to work when desired by the patient. Additional research is needed to develop interventions to optimize return to work.

Adherence to adjuvant hormone therapy in low-income women with breast cancer: the role of provider-patient communication.

To assess the impact of patient-provider communication on adherence to tamoxifen (TAM) and aromatase inhibitors (AIs) 36 months after breast cancer (BC) diagnosis in a low-income population of women. California statewide surveys were conducted among 921 low-income women with BC at 6, 18, and 36 months after BC diagnosis. A subset of 303 women with stage I-III BC who initiated hormone treatment after diagnosis was identified. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, and adjusted adherence rates were calculated. The main outcome measure was self-reported hormone use at 36 months after BC diagnosis and the chief independent variables were patient-centered communication after diagnosis by patient report as measured by the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) and patients' self-efficacy in patient-physician interactions (PEPPI). Overall adherence to TAM/AI was relatively high (88 %). Adjusted rates of adherence were 59 and 94 % for patients with the lowest versus highest scores on the CAHPS communication scale (AOR = 1.22, P = 0.006) and 72 versus 91 % for patients with the lowest and highest rating of PEPPI (AOR = 1.04, P = 0.04). Having at least one comorbid condition also increased the odds of adherence to hormonal therapy (AOR = 3.14, P = 0.03). Having no health insurance and experiencing side-effects from hormone treatment were barriers for adherence (AOR = 0.12, P = 0.001; AOR = 0.26, P = 0.003, respectively). Patient-centered communication and perceived self-efficacy in patient-physician interaction were significantly associated with patient adherence to ongoing TAM/AI therapy among low-income women with BC. Interventions on patient-provider communication may provide opportunities to improve patient outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Return to work in low-income Latina and non-Latina white breast cancer survivors: a 3-year longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has found an 80% return-to-work rate in mid-income white breast cancer survivors, but little is known about the employment trajectory of low-income minorities or whites. We set out to compare the trajectories of low-income Latina and non-Latina white survivors and to identify correlates of employment status. METHODS: Participants were low-income women who had localized breast cancer, spoke English or Spanish, and were employed at the time of diagnosis. Interviews were conducted 6, 18, and 36 months after diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent correlates of employment status at 18 months. RESULTS: Of 290 participants, 62% were Latina. Latinas were less likely than non-Latina whites to be working 6 months (27% vs 49%; P = .0002) and 18 months (45% vs 59%; P = .02) after diagnosis, but at 36 months there was no significant difference (53% vs 59%; P = .29). Latinas were more likely to be manual laborers than were non-Latina whites (P < .0001). Baseline job type and receipt of axillary node dissection were associated with employment status among Latinas but not non-Latina whites. CONCLUSIONS: Neither low-income Latinas nor non-Latina whites approached the 80% rate of return to work seen in wealthier white populations. Latinas followed a protracted return-to-work trajectory compared to non-Latina whites, and differences in job type appear to have played an important role. Manual laborers may be disproportionately impacted by surgical procedures that limit physical activity. This can inform the development of rehabilitative interventions and may have important implications for the surgical and postsurgical management of patients.

Belief in divine control, coping, and race/ethnicity among older women with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Belief in divine control is often assumed to be fatalistic. However, the assumption has rarely been investigated in racial/ethnic minorities. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine the association between belief in divine control and coping and how the association was moderated by ethnicity/acculturation in a multi-ethnic sample of breast cancer patients. METHODS: Latina, African American, and non-Hispanic White older women with newly diagnosed breast cancer (N=257) from a population-based survey completed the scale of Belief in Divine Control and the Brief COPE. RESULTS: Belief in divine control was positively related to approach coping (i.e., positive reframing, active coping, and planning) in all ethnic groups. Belief in divine control was positively related to acceptance and negatively related to avoidance coping (i.e., denial and behavioral disengagement) among low-acculturated Latinas. CONCLUSIONS: Negative presumptions about fatalistic implications of belief in divine control should be critically reappraised, especially when such skepticism is applied to racial/ethnic minority patients.

Validity of self-reports of breast cancer treatment in low-income, medically underserved women with breast cancer.

Few studies have assessed the agreement between subjects' self-report and medical records among patients with breast cancer (BC), and none has addressed this issue in low-income women with BC. We assessed the level of agreement between self-report and medical records data for key BC treatment and prognostic characteristics using correct proportion and the Kappa statistic, among 726 low-income BC patients. Unconditional regression was used to investigate the association between accuracy of self-report and potential explanatory factors. Overall agreement between self-report and medical records was 95.3-99.6% for BC treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy (Kappa = 0.79-0.99). Specific agreement was 87-89.5% for surgery type (Kappa = 0.51-0.96); 86.3% for chemotherapy completion (Kappa = 0.46) and 98.7% for radiotherapy completion (Kappa = 0.43); 95.2% for medical oncologist consultation (Kappa = 0.59) and 96% for radiation oncologist consultation; 97.3% for metastasis (Kappa = 0.56); and 93.6% for recurrence (Kappa = 0.30). When accepting answers within 15 days of the medical record date, 78.2% of women correctly reported surgery date, yet only around 55% of women correctly reported the start and/or end date of radiotherapy. Older age, less education, BC recurrence and poor patient-physician communication were associated with the lesser accuracy of patients' self-report compared to medical records (P < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that self-reporting of key treatment and prognostic information is relatively accurate among low-income women with BC. Self-report seems to be a reliable source for accurate information when medical record review is unavailable or unfeasible. Interventions to enhance patient-physician communication may facilitate more accurate information reporting among vulnerable populations.

Treatment-related symptoms among underserved women with breast cancer: the impact of physician-patient communication.

Low-income, minority women are more likely to be undertreated for breast cancer (BC) treatment-related symptoms than whites. This study assessed the impact of patient-physician communication on symptom resolution. A cross-sectional, California statewide survey was conducted among 921 low-income women with BC. Ethnic/racial differences in BC treatment-related symptoms (pain, nausea/vomiting, depression) reporting and physician' awareness of these symptoms were assessed by patient report. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to investigate the impact of patient-physician communication on symptom resolution. Depression was the most common symptom reported by patients (66%), yet physicians were the least aware of it (26.3%), especially among less-acculturated Latinas (18.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (14%; P < 0.001). Greater patient-perceived self-efficacy in communication with physicians and greater physician awareness of the symptom positively predicted pain resolution, controlling for sociodemographic variables, comorbidity, and treatment received (AOR = 1.05, P < 0.0001; AOR = 6.12, P < 0.001). Physician awareness was a significant determinant of depression resolution (AOR = 13.46, P < 0.001). Yet patient-perceived self-efficacy played a much more important role than physicians' awareness in nausea resolution (AOR = 1.04, P = 0.0002). Less-acculturated Latinas tended to achieve less symptom resolution than whites, while this negative impact disappeared or was moderated after patient-physician communication was considered. This study suggests that physicians under-recognized depression, especially among Latinas. The resolution of BC treatment-related symptoms can be addressed by appropriate educational interventions targeted at patient-physician communication. Effective patient-physician communication can moderate disparities in symptom resolution among Latinas, regardless of language acculturation.

Depression and sexual adjustment following breast cancer in low-income Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women.

OBJECTIVE: Hispanics are the largest and fastest growing ethnic minority group in the United States and breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Hispanic women. However, Hispanics are underrepresented in the psychosocial breast cancer literature. METHODS: This study included 677 low-income women (425 Hispanic, 252 non-Hispanic White) enrolled in the Medi-Cal Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program. Data were gathered through phone interviews conducted in English or Spanish 6 and 18 months following breast cancer diagnosis. We focus on three variables that the literature indicates are salient for breast cancer survivors: sexual function, body image and depression. RESULTS: Results of an ANCOVA indicated worse sexual function for Hispanic women, even after controlling for significant covariates. Hispanics reported significantly less sexual desire, greater difficulty relaxing and enjoying sex, and greater difficulty becoming sexually aroused and having orgasms than non-Hispanic White women. Both Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women endorsed a lack of sexual desire more frequently than problems with sexual function. Body image did not differ between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women. In all, 38% of Hispanic and 48% of non-Hispanic White women scored above cut-off scores for depressive symptoms. While there was no ethnic difference in depressive symptoms, single women reported more depressive symptoms than partnered women. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that low-income breast cancer survivors may experience symptoms of depression more than a year following diagnosis, and that sexual dysfunction may be particularly salient for low-income Hispanic women.

Racial/ethnic differences in breast cancer outcomes among older patients: effects of physician communication and patient empowerment.

OBJECTIVES: To examine racial/ethnic disparities in older women's health-related quality of life (QoL) and type of breast cancer treatment as mediated by physician-level and individual-level variables. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of a population-based, consecutive sample identified through the Los Angeles Cancer Surveillance Program of Latina (n = 99), African American (n = 66), and White (n = 92) women aged 55 years or older (N = 257) between 3 and 9 months after primary breast cancer diagnosis and at least 1 month posttreatment. An exploratory, empirically developed latent variable model tested the relationships among demographic and physician-related variables, patient attitudes, and health-related outcomes. Health-related outcomes included QoL measures and receipt of breast conserving surgery (BCS). RESULTS: Latinas reported less BCS and poorer QoL compared with Whites. Physician communication that can empower patients, in terms of patient efficacy in patient?physician interactions and breast cancer knowledge, mitigated racial/ethnic disparities in receipt of BCS. Physician emotional support was not related to patient cognitive empowerment and treatment outcomes. Medical mistrust in minority women was related to less self-efficacy and less positive coping, as well as, both directly and indirectly, to reduced QoL. Latinas reported poorer QoL in the tested model. CONCLUSION: Physician communication style, specifically information giving and participatory decision making, may empower older women with breast cancer and help mitigate racial/ethnic disparities in surgical treatment received.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Survivorship Care Plans Among Low-Income, Predominantly Latina Breast Cancer Survivors.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of treatment summaries and survivorship care plans coupled with a nurse counseling session, primarily on physician implementation of and secondarily on patient adherence to recommended survivorship care, among a low-income population of breast cancer survivors (survivors). Methods We recruited 212 low-income, predominantly Latina (72.6%) survivors with stage 0 to III breast cancer, with an average age of 53 years, from two Los Angeles County public hospitals into an RCT of a survivorship care nurse counseling session coupled with the provision of individualized treatment summaries and survivorship care plans to patients and their health care providers from December 2012 to July 2014. One hundred seven survivors received the experimental intervention, and 105 survivors received usual care. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess intervention effects on physician implementation of and patient adherence to recommended survivorship care. Scales that served as covariables were Knowledge of Survivorship Issues, Perceived Efficacy in Patient-Physician Interactions, and Satisfaction With Care and Information. Results Survivors in the intervention group reported greater physician implementation of recommended breast cancer survivorship care, for example, treatment of depression or hot flashes, than did those in the control group (adjusted difference, 16 ± 5.3; P = .003). Baseline Satisfaction With Care and Information was positively associated with physician implementation (coefficient, 5.2 ± 2.2; P = .02). Being married/partnered (-11.8 ± 4.0; P = .004) and age (-0.5 ± 0.2; P = .028) were negatively associated with patient adherence. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first RCT of survivorship care plans to show benefits in clinical outcomes, in this case, showing increased physician implementation of recommended breast cancer survivorship care in the intervention group, compared with the control group.

Do age and ethnicity predict breast cancer treatment received? A cross-sectional urban population based study. Breast cancer treatment: age and ethnicity.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment patterns of women aged 55 years or older with newly diagnosed breast cancer and to examine the association between age and ethnicity/race on treatment selection. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey between January 1 and June 30, 2001 of 401 women was performed of Hispanic, black and non-Hispanic white women in Los Angeles County, aged 55 years or older with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Regression analysis examined the association between: (a) age and treatment selection and (b) ethnicity/race and treatment selection, adjusting for the effect of possible confounders. RESULTS: In this study of urban breast cancer patients (64.1% response rate), blacks were less likely to receive hormone (OR=0.36) or chemotherapy therapy (OR=0.50) while older patients were less likely to receive lymph node dissection after lumpectomy (OR=0.48) and chemotherapy (OR=0.22). CONCLUSION: Although there are racial and age disparities in breast cancer treatment, other factors such as education, income status, insurance plan, functional status, and comorbidity also play an important role.

The essential role of generalists in health care systems.

Viewing primary care as merely one of the many niches in individual patient care fosters a narrow perspective that neither accounts for the full value of primary care nor offers proper guidance for reforming it. Instead, a systems view better articulates primary care's essential role in increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of other health care services. Primary care improves health care system functioning through such services as managing and triaging undifferentiated symptoms, matching patient needs to health care resources, and enhancing the system's ability to adapt to new circumstances. By acting as an appropriate filter for high-technology care, primary care helps ensure that it is appropriately applied, a major determinant of outcomes. Furthermore, because primary care is the most financially and geographically accessible arm of the health care system, it reduces socioeconomic and geographic disparities across the population. Even in the de facto health system that exists in the United States, these functions are necessary for the efficient, equitable, and sustainable delivery of health care and the adaptability and resilience of the system as a whole. As primary care reforms proceed, it will be important to explicitly consider how to support and strengthen its system-level benefits. Needed reforms include enabling universal access to primary care and providing the leadership, training, and infrastructure support to improve its performance as a central hub in the network of patients, clinicians, and communities. It is important that health systems realize the essential integrative function of primary care.

Validation of the Chinese version 10-item Perceived Efficacy in Patient-Physician Interactions scale in patients with osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the 10-item Perceived Efficacy in Patient-Physician Interaction (PEPPI-10) scale in hospitalized patients with severe knee osteoarthritis in the People's Republic of China. METHODS: Between January and March 2015, the Chinese versions of PEPPI, self-efficacy for exercise scale, osteoporosis self-efficacy scale, and modified fall efficacy scale were applied to assess 110 severe knee osteoarthritis patients who were hospitalized in the second ward of the department of arthroplasty surgery of Tianjin Hospital. RESULTS: The Chinese version of the PEPPI-10 scale had a high coefficient of internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient, 0.907). The score of the Chinese version of PEPPI was weakly correlated with the scores of the Chinese versions of self-efficacy for exercise scale, osteoporosis self-efficacy scale, and modified fall efficacy scale. CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of the PEPPI-10 scale exhibits sufficient internal consistency and convergent validity in hospitalized patients with severe knee osteoarthritis in the People's Republic of China.

Breast cancer treatment in older women: impact of the patient-physician interaction.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of the patient-physician interaction on breast cancer care in older women. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Los Angeles County, California. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred twenty-two consecutively identified breast cancer patients aged 55 and older who were within 6 months of breast cancer diagnosis and/or 1 month posttreatment. MEASUREMENTS: Dependent variables were patient breast cancer knowledge, treatment delay, and receipt of breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Key independent variables were five dimensions of the patient-physician interaction by patient report, including physician provision of tangible and interactive informational support, physician provision of emotional support, physician participatory decision-making style, and patient perceived self-efficacy in the patient-physician interaction. Age and ethnicity were additional important independent variables. RESULTS: In multiple logistic regression models, only physician interactive informational support had significant relationships with all three dependent variables, controlling for a wide range of patient sociodemographic and case-mix characteristics, visit length, number of physicians seen, social support, and physician sociodemographic and practice characteristics. Specifically, informational support positively predicted patient breast cancer knowledge (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.00-1.38), negatively predicted treatment delays (AOR=0.80, 95% CI=0.67-0.94), and positively predicted receipt of BCS (AOR=1.29, 95% CI=1.07-1.56). Age and ethnicity were not significant predictors in these models. CONCLUSION: One specific domain of the patient-physician interaction, interactive informational support, may provide an avenue to ensure adequate breast cancer knowledge for patient treatment decision-making, decrease treatment delay, and increase rates of BCS for older breast cancer patients, thereby potentially mitigating known healthcare disparities in this vulnerable population of breast cancer patients.

Implementation of consultative geriatric recommendations: the role of patient-primary care physician concordance.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect on primary care physicians' implementation and their patients' adherence behaviors of patient-physician concordance about recommended geriatric health care. DESIGN: Case-series, independent interviews of patients and their physicians about their perceptions of the patients' health and the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling older patients (n = 111) who received consultative outpatient CGA and their primary care physicians. MEASUREMENTS: Concordance variables were generated using physician and patient responses to 10 questions on health- and CGA-related perceptions. An overall concordance score was generated by summing the total number of items on which patients and physicians agreed. Measures of the two dependent variables (physician implementation of and patient adherence to CGA recommendations) were by self-report. RESULTS: In multiple logistic regression analyses, overall concordance between patient and physician proved to be a significant and powerful predictor of physician implementation of (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.6-4.6, P <.001) and patient adherence to (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.7-4.2, P <.001) CGA recommendations, controlling for patient and physician gender and age, patients' functional status, duration of the patient-physician relationship, and frequency of visits in the previous year. Further analysis revealed that mutual patient-physician concordance on health-related perceptions was a significant predictor of these outcomes, whereas individual patient or physician perceptions were not. CONCLUSION: Concordance between older patients and their primary care physicians is a powerful predictor of physician implementation of and patient adherence to outpatient consultative CGA recommendations. Future research should focus on ways physicians can assess and negotiate patient-physician agreement on geriatric healthcare recommendations.

The impact of primary care physicians on follow-up care of underserved breast cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of the involvement of primary care physicians (PCPs) on the receipt of preventive follow-up care after a breast cancer (BC) diagnosis among a low-income population. METHODS: Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify potential factors associated with receipt of preventive care among 579 low-income women with BC. The main outcome variables at 36 months after BC diagnosis were receipt of annual mammography, Papanicolaou smear in the past 2 years, and ever had colonoscopy for those who were at least 50 years old. The main independent variable was type of provider visit in the past 12 months. RESULTS: Women with a PCP visit only or both PCP and surgeon/cancer specialist visits in the past 12 months were more likely to have had annual mammography (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.67; P = .109 and AOR, 2.20, P = .0008, respectively), a Papanicolaou smear in the past 2 years (AOR, 2.90; P = .04 and AOR, 2.24, P = .009, respectively), and colonoscopy (AOR, 2.99; P = .041 and AOR, 2.17; P = .026, respectively) than those who only visited surgeons/cancer specialists. Indeed, women who saw only a PCP for their follow-up care had the highest odds ratio of receiving each clinical care service. CONCLUSIONS: The involvement of PCPs in the medical care of low-income BC survivors results in better preventive follow-up care. Getting PCPs involved in the care of cancer survivors might be particularly pertinent for low-income populations because of lower costs and ease of access compared with cancer specialist-provided care.

Breast cancer treatment decision making among Latinas and non-Latina Whites: a communication model predicting decisional outcomes and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: Deciding among medical treatment options is a pivotal event following cancer diagnosis, a task that can be particularly daunting for individuals uncomfortable with communication in a medical context. Few studies have explored the surgical decision-making process and associated outcomes among Latinas. We propose a model to elucidate pathways through which acculturation (indicated by language use) and reports of communication effectiveness specific to medical decision making contribute to decisional outcomes (i.e., congruency between preferred and actual involvement in decision making, treatment satisfaction) and quality of life among Latinas and non-Latina White women with breast cancer. METHODS: Latinas (N = 326) and non-Latina Whites (N = 168) completed measures six months after breast cancer diagnosis, and quality of life was assessed 18 months after diagnosis. Structural equation modeling was used to examine relationships between language use, communication effectiveness, and outcomes. RESULTS: Among Latinas, 63% reported congruency in decision making, whereas 76% of non-Latina Whites reported congruency. In Latinas, greater use of English was related to better reported communication effectiveness. Effectiveness in communication was not related to congruency in decision making, but several indicators of effectiveness in communication were related to greater treatment satisfaction, as was greater congruency in decision making. Greater treatment satisfaction predicted more favorable quality of life. The final model fit the data well only for Latinas. Differences in quality of life and effectiveness in communication were observed between racial/ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Findings underscore the importance of developing targeted interventions for physicians and Latinas with breast cancer to enhance communication in decision making.

Patient satisfaction with breast cancer follow-up care provided by family physicians.

PURPOSE: There is little evidence to document patient satisfaction with follow-up care provided by family physicians (FPs)/general practitioners (GPs) to breast cancer patients. We aimed to identify determinants of satisfaction with such care in low-income, medically underserved women with breast cancer. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 145 women who reported receiving follow-up care from an FP/GP. Women were enrolled in California's Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program and were interviewed by phone 3 years after their breast cancer diagnosis. Cleary and McNeil's model, which states that patient satisfaction is a function of patient characteristics, structure of care, and processes of care, was used to understand the determinants of satisfaction. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors. RESULTS: Of the patients interviewed, 73.4% reported that they were extremely satisfied with their treatment by the FP/GP. Women who were able to ask their family physicians questions about their breast cancer had six times greater odds of being extremely satisfied compared with women who were not able to ask any questions. Women who scored the FP higher on the ability to explain things in a way she could understand had higher odds of being extremely satisfied compared with women who scored their family physicians lower. CONCLUSIONS: FPs/GPs providing follow-up care for breast cancer patients should encourage patients to ask questions and must communicate in a way that patients understand. These recommendations are congruent with the characteristics of patient-centered communication for cancer patients enunciated in a recent National Cancer Institute monograph.