BACKGROUND: Among women with breast cancer (BC), greater BC knowledge has been associated with greater participation in treatment decision-making, patient satisfaction, and survival. The objective of this study was to identify modifiable determinants associated with BC knowledge. METHODS: Data were collected from a telephone survey of medically underserved women with BC in California (n = 909). The dependent variable for analysis was BC knowledge. The modifiable determinants that were assessed included 1) physician-patient discussion of BC topics, 2) receipt of written BC-related material, 3) self-efficacy in interacting with physicians, 4) physician emotional support, 5) discussions with a BC survivor, and 6) office visit support by relatives/friends. Multivariate linear regression was used to examine the effect of those determinants on BC knowledge while controlling for socioeconomic factors, clinical characteristics, and treatment received. RESULTS: The average knowledge score was 6.9 (standard deviation, 2.3; range, 0-10). In multivariate analyses among women with less physician emotional support, those with the greatest self-efficacy had higher knowledge scores than those with the least self-efficacy (8.2 vs 5.4; P < .001). For women with low self-efficacy, those with more physician emotional support had higher knowledge scores than those with less physician emotional support when the analysis was controlled for confounding factors (6.3 vs 5.4; P < .001); physician information-giving had no effect on BC knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings suggested significant associations of patient self-efficacy and physician emotional support with BC knowledge; physician emotional support appeared to be more important than physician informational support. Further research will be needed to investigate whether interventions that target these 2 domains may be effective in increasing BC knowledge in disadvantaged populations.
BACKGROUND: Among women with breast cancer (BC), greater BC knowledge has been associated with greater participation in treatment decision-making, patient satisfaction, and survival. The objective of this study was to identify modifiable determinants associated with BC knowledge. METHODS: Data were collected from a telephone survey of medically underserved women with BC in California (n = 909). The dependent variable for analysis was BC knowledge. The modifiable determinants that were assessed included 1) physician-patient discussion of BC topics, 2) receipt of written BC-related material, 3) self-efficacy in interacting with physicians, 4) physician emotional support, 5) discussions with a BC survivor, and 6) office visit support by relatives/friends. Multivariate linear regression was used to examine the effect of those determinants on BC knowledge while controlling for socioeconomic factors, clinical characteristics, and treatment received. RESULTS: The average knowledge score was 6.9 (standard deviation, 2.3; range, 0-10). In multivariate analyses among women with less physician emotional support, those with the greatest self-efficacy had higher knowledge scores than those with the least self-efficacy (8.2 vs 5.4; P < .001). For women with low self-efficacy, those with more physician emotional support had higher knowledge scores than those with less physician emotional support when the analysis was controlled for confounding factors (6.3 vs 5.4; P < .001); physician information-giving had no effect on BC knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings suggested significant associations of patient self-efficacy and physician emotional support with BC knowledge; physician emotional support appeared to be more important than physician informational support. Further research will be needed to investigate whether interventions that target these 2 domains may be effective in increasing BC knowledge in disadvantaged populations.
Authors: Jennifer L Malin; Allison L Diamant; Barbara Leake; Yihang Liu; Amardeep Thind; Katherine L Kahn; Eric C Schneider; Arnold M Epstein; Rose C Maly Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2010-06-07 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Victoria S Blinder; Sujata Patil; Amardeep Thind; Allison Diamant; Clifford A Hudis; Ethan Basch; Rose C Maly Journal: Cancer Date: 2011-08-25 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Victoria Blinder; Sujata Patil; Carolyn Eberle; Jennifer Griggs; Rose C Maly Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2013-07-25 Impact factor: 4.872
Authors: Rose C Maly; Yihang Liu; Barbara Leake; Amardeep Thind; Allison L Diamant Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2009-05-16 Impact factor: 4.872