Factors That Determine Satisfaction With Surgical Treatment of Low-Income Women With Breast Cancer

Abstract

Objective To examine the relationship of overall patient satisfaction with the treatment provided by the surgeon and the consultation process and skills, in low income women undergoing surgical treatment for breast cancer. Design Cross sectional survey. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between satisfaction with surgeon treatment and four consultation skills and processes (time spent, listens carefully, explains things in a way you could understand, and shows respect for what you had to say), controlling for a range of patient, surgeon, and treatment characteristics. Setting & Patients A statewide sample of 789 low income women in California receiving treatment for breast cancer under the state’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (BCCTP). Main outcome measures Satisfaction with surgeon treatment. Results Three out of every four women reported being extremely satisfied with the treatment they received from their surgeon. African-American women and those with arm swelling were less likely to be satisfied, while those reporting that the surgeon always spent enough time and explained things in a way they could understand were more likely to report greater satisfaction. Conclusions Our findings highlight the importance of two relatively simple behaviors that surgeons can easily implement to increase patient satisfaction, which can be of potential benefit in today’s litigious world.

Disparities in the survivorship experience among Latina survivors of breast cancer

“…Greater information giving has been associated with greater satisfaction and improved quality of life . In one study, women with BC who had less knowledge regarding their condition reported regret about their treatment decisions .…”

“…Satisfaction with health care providers has been associated with the continued use of health care services, health care provider follow‐up care, better psychological outcomes, and improved quality of life . Better patient‐physician communication is associated with self‐efficacy, adherence, and satisfaction with care …”

Perceived Discrimination and Ethnic Identity Among Breast Cancer Survivors

“…Breast cancer care research with African Americans and Latinas reported lower patient satisfaction related to perceived insensitivity from providers and denied access to care (Ashing-Giwa et al, 2004; Howard et al, 2007; Katz et al, 2005; Mandelblatt et al, 2003). However, a study of racially diverse patients with breast cancer (N = 789) found that most (62%) felt respected by their breast cancer surgeon, although satisfaction was lower among African American women (Thind, Diamant, Liu, & Maly, 2009). None of those studies included an examination of ethnic or cultural identity in the analyses.…”

Satisfaction with cancer care among underserved racial‐ethnic minorities and lower‐income patients receiving patient navigation

“…This discrepancy may be related to variations in the patient navigators' technical skills and the interpersonal relationship between the patient and the patient navigator. Satisfaction with the interpersonal aspects of health care is a key component of patient satisfaction with cancer care . Previous research has indicated that high patient satisfaction with cancer care was associated with multiple patient rankings of navigators in terms of their interpersonal relationship with the navigator …”