Rose C. Maly|Judith A. Stein|Yoshiko Umezawa|Barbara Leake|M. Douglas Anglin
Racial/ethnic differences in breast cancer outcomes among older patients: Effects of physician communication and patient empowerment.
University of California, Los Angeles|University of California, Los Angeles|University of California, Los Angeles|University of California, Los Angeles
examine racialethnic disparities older womens healthrelated quality life qol type breast cancer treatment mediated physicianlevel individuallevel variablesa crosssectional survey populationbased consecutive sample identified los angeles cancer surveillance program latina n 99 african american n 66 white n 92 women aged 55 years older n 257 3 9 months primary breast cancer diagnosis least 1 month posttreatment exploratory empirically developed latent variable model tested relationships among demographic physicianrelated variables patient attitudes healthrelated outcomes healthrelated outcomes included qol measures receipt breast conserving surgery bcslatinas reported less bcs poorer qol compared whites physician communication empower patients terms patient efficacy patientphysician interactions breast cancer knowledge mitigated racialethnic disparities receipt bcs physician emotional support related patient cognitive empowerment treatment outcomes medical mistrust minority women related less selfefficacy less positive coping well directly indirectly reduced qol latinas reported poorer qol tested modelphysician communication style specifically information giving participatory decision making may empower older women breast cancer help mitigate racialethnic disparities surgical treatment received