Determinants of participation in treatment decision-making by older breast cancer patients

To identify the impact of patient age and patient-physician communication on older breast cancer patients' participation in treatment decision-making.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of breast cancer patients aged 55 years or older (n = 222) in Los Angeles County. Patients received a breast cancer diagnosis between 1998 and 2000, and were interviewed on average 7.1 months (SD = 2.9) from diagnosis. All patient-physician communication variables were measured by patient self-report. Patient participation in treatment decision-making was defined by (1) questioning the surgeon about treatment, and (2) perception of self as the final decision-maker.

In multiple logistic regression analyses, surgeons' specific solicitation of patients' input about treatment preferences had positive relationships with both dimensions of patient participation in decision-making, that is, questioning the surgeon (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05-4.16) and perceiving oneself to be the final decision-maker (OR = 2.38, CI = 1.08-5.28), controlling for patients' sociodemographic and case-mix characteristics and social support. Greater emotional support from surgeons was negatively associated with patient perception of being the final decision-maker. Physicians' information-giving and patient age were not associated with the participation measures. However, greater patient-perceived self-efficacy in patient-physician interactions was related to participation.

In breast cancer patients aged 55 years and older, surgeons' solicitation of patients' treatment preferences was a powerful independent predictor of patient participation in treatment decision-making, as was patient's self-efficacy in interacting with physicians. Increasing both physicians' and patients' partnership-building skills might enhance the quality of treatment decision-making and treatment outcomes in this burgeoning patient population.