A peer-led decision support intervention improves decision outcomes in black women with breast cancer

J Cancer Educ. 2013 Jun;28(2):262-9. doi: 10.1007/s13187-013-0459-z.

Abstract

Previous reports suggest that Black breast cancer patients receive less patient-centered cancer care than their White counterparts. Interventions to improve patient-centered care (PCC) in Black breast cancer patients are lacking. Seventy-six women with histologically confirmed breast cancer were recruited from the Washington, DC area. After a baseline telephone interview, women received an in-person decision support educational session led by a trained survivor coach. The coach used a culturally appropriate guidebook and decision-making model-TALK Back!(©) A follow-up assessment assessed participants' acceptability of the intervention and intermediate outcomes. After the intervention, participants reported increased: self-efficacy in communicating with providers (70 %) and self-efficacy in making treatment decisions (70 %). Compared to baseline scores, post-intervention communication with providers significantly increased (p= .000). This is the first outcome report of an intervention to facilitate PCC in Black breast cancer patients. Testing this intervention using RCTs or similar designs will be important next steps.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / ethnology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / psychology
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Decision Making*
  • District of Columbia
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / ethnology
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology
  • Patient-Centered Care*
  • Peer Group*
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Power, Psychological
  • Self Efficacy
  • Social Support*