Demographics and patient treatment choice in stage I breast cancer

The identification of factors related to patients' treatment selections for breast cancer is important to health care providers. This study examined the relationship of selected demographics to patient treatment choice for stage I breast cancer. The study design was a retrospective chart review from a community hospital's tumor registry. The investigators used frequency distributions, chi-square tests, and factor analyses to analyze a convenience sample of 58 patients with stage I breast cancer who registered in 1992 and 1993. The results show that education level is a significant influencing factor (p = .02) in patients' treatment choices. Perioperative nurses often help patients clarify treatment option information and provide support during the decision-making process. Demographic factors may affect patients' perceptions of critical information and directly influence their treatment choices.