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Breast cancer patients' personality style, age, and treatment decision making
Author(s) -
Johnson Julie D.,
Roberts Cleora S.,
Cox Charles E.,
Reintgen Douglas S.,
Levine Judi S.,
Parsons Melisande
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9098(199611)63:3<183::aid-jso9>3.0.co;2-9
Subject(s) - medicine , breast cancer , personality , style (visual arts) , cancer , gynecology , oncology , social psychology , psychology , archaeology , history
Background Previous studies have shown that whereas nearly all cancer patients want information, far fewer wish to make treatment decisions. Although breast cancer patients who were given a choice of lumpectomy versus mastectomy and were encouraged to make the decision were believed to do better psychologically, a 1994 study refuted this. Some authors suggest that patient personality style is an important consideration in decisional preference. Methods Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients (n = 76) were surveyed within 6 months of surgery. They answered seven questions about patient and physician roles in the decision‐making process. Additionally, they completed the Miller Behavioral Style Scale (MBSS), which categorizes “monitors,” or information seekers, and “blunters,” or information avoiders. Chi‐square analyses were used to explore the relationship of personality style and age to treatment decision‐making preferences. Results Although 80% of women wanted a role in decision making, 74% wanted their surgeons to make a recommendation and when given, 94% followed the recommended treatment plan. Monitors and blunters were equally likely to want physician recommendations. Younger women, particularly those under age 40, were more likely to want a physician's recommendation. Of those women who had specific fears about their cancer (76%), only half of them revealed such fears to their doctors. Conclusions The notion that health care consumers, particularly younger ones, desire an independent choice of treatment was contradicted in this study. Physicians are encouraged to provide information and to probe regarding the fears of breast cancer patients in order to reduce anxiety while recognizing that treatment recommendations are desired by most women. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.