Jeffrey D Robinson1,2, Maria Venetis3, Richard L Street4,5, Thomas Kearney6. 1. Department of Communication, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon. 2. Department of Radiation Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon. 3. Purdue University, Brian Lamb School of Communication, West Lafayette, Indiana. 4. Department of Communication, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. 5. Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, College Station, Texas. 6. Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite data on breast cancer patients' information needs and their association with patient outcomes, there are currently no data on what U.S. patients actually ask surgeons during primary consultations. METHODS: Working from transcripts of videotaped, treatment decision making consultations between breast cancer patients and surgeons, we identify all questions (by patients and companions) and then use grounded theory techniques to determine the most recurrent question-asking themes. RESULTS: Sample includes 132 recently diagnosed (M = 8.9 days), late-middle-aged (M = 61.2 years), female patients with predominantly early stage (0-1; 78%), first-time breast cancer (92.4%) consulting with one of nine surgeons in community based offices. Transcripts contained 2,781 questions (1,929 by patients, 852 by companions; Cohen's Kappa = 0.90), which generated 15 patient question asking themes that were represented (i.e., asked about) at least once in >20% of all consultations. CONCLUSION: Question asking themes are a concrete index of what patients want to know more about prior to treatment. Identified themes specify, modify, and extend prior findings based on self-report data. Findings potentially increase surgeons' levels of patient centered care by improving surgeons' abilities to satisfactorily address patients' information needs, which has the potential to improve both patient outcomes and clinical practice guidelines. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:922-929.
BACKGROUND: Despite data on breast cancerpatients' information needs and their association with patient outcomes, there are currently no data on what U.S. patients actually ask surgeons during primary consultations. METHODS: Working from transcripts of videotaped, treatment decision making consultations between breast cancerpatients and surgeons, we identify all questions (by patients and companions) and then use grounded theory techniques to determine the most recurrent question-asking themes. RESULTS: Sample includes 132 recently diagnosed (M = 8.9 days), late-middle-aged (M = 61.2 years), female patients with predominantly early stage (0-1; 78%), first-time breast cancer (92.4%) consulting with one of nine surgeons in community based offices. Transcripts contained 2,781 questions (1,929 by patients, 852 by companions; Cohen's Kappa = 0.90), which generated 15 patient question asking themes that were represented (i.e., asked about) at least once in >20% of all consultations. CONCLUSION: Question asking themes are a concrete index of what patients want to know more about prior to treatment. Identified themes specify, modify, and extend prior findings based on self-report data. Findings potentially increase surgeons' levels of patient centered care by improving surgeons' abilities to satisfactorily address patients' information needs, which has the potential to improve both patient outcomes and clinical practice guidelines. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:922-929.
Authors: Marilyn M Schapira; Kathlyn E Fletcher; Pamela S Ganschow; Elizabeth A Jacobs; Cindy M Walker; Alicia J Smallwood; Denisse Gil; Arshia Faghri; Amanda L Kong; Tina W Yen; Susan McDunn; Elizabeth Marcus; Joan M Neuner Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2019-06-25 Impact factor: 2.681