Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

What Do Patients Prefer? Understanding Patient Perspectives on Receiving a New Breast Cancer Diagnosis

  • Breast Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background and Objective

There is variability in physician practice regarding delivery method and timeliness of test results to cancer patients. Our aim was to survey patients to determine if there was a difference between actual and preferred care for disclosure of test results.

Methods

A de-identified survey was distributed to online cancer support groups to query patients about their experience regarding communication of cancer testing and timeliness. Analyses of the differences between actual and preferred communication and wait times were performed.

Results

Overall, 1000 patients completed the survey. The analysis herein was restricted to 784 breast cancer survivors. Survey responders were predominately White (non-Hispanic; 89 %), college educated (78 %), and media ‘savvy’ (online medical media usage; 97 %). Differences between actual and preferred care were identified for the domains of mode of communication and wait times for initial breast cancer diagnostic biopsies and other tests. A total of 309 (39 %) of 784 patients received face-to-face communication for a new cancer diagnosis, with 394 (50 %) patients preferring this option (p < 0.0001). In addition, 315 (40 %) of 784 patients received their cancer biopsy result within 2 days, with 646 (82 %) patients preferring this option (p < 0.0001). Differences were also identified between actual and preferred care for multiple other test types.

Conclusions

Actual care for timeliness and modes of communication did not reflect patient-desired care. National and local initiatives to improve performance are needed. As a first step, we recommend that each patient be queried about their preference for mode of communication and timeliness, and efforts made to comply.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Baile WF, Buckman R, Lenzi R, Glober G, Beale EA, Kudelka AP. SPIKES—a six-step protocol for delivering bad news: application to the patient with cancer. Oncologist. 2000;5(4):302–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Rose C, Stovall E, Ganz PA, Desch C, Hewitt M. Cancer Quality Alliance: blueprint for a better cancer care system. CA Cancer J Clin. 2008;58(5):266–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Purnell CA, Arnold RM. Retrospective analysis of communication with patients undergoing radiological breast biopsy. J Support Oncol. 2010;8(6):259–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Butow PN, Kazemi JN, Beeney LJ, Griffin A, Dunn SM, Tattersall MHN. When the diagnosis is cancer: patient communication experiences and preferences. Cancer. 1996;77(12):2630–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Choudhry A, Hong J, Chong K, et al. Patients’ preferences for biopsy result notification in an era of electronic messaging methods. JAMA Dermatol. 2015;151(5):513–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Figg WD, Smith EK, Price DK, English BC, Thurman PW, Steinberg SM, et al. Disclosing a diagnosis of cancer: where and how does it occur? J Clin Oncol. 2010;28(22):3630–5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Salber P. How docs give us the bad news. The doctor weighs in (blog). 2010. http://thedoctorweighsin.com/how-docs-give-us-the-bad-news/. Accessed 6 Mar 2016.

  8. The American Society of Breast Surgeons Mastery of Breast Surgery (2015). Quality Measurement Program and Breast Surgeons Forum. https://www.breastsurgeons.org/new_layout/programs/mastery/. Accessed 19 Apr 2016.

  9. Institute of Medicine (2001). Crossing the quality chasm: a new health system for the 21st century. National Academy Press; 2001. http://www.nap.edu/read/10027/chapter/1. Accessed 6 Mar 2016.

  10. Institute for Healthcare Improvement (2016). The IHI triple aim: improving the patient experience. http://www.ihi.org/engage/initiatives/TripleAim/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed 6 Mar 2016.

  11. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Person and family partnerships and effective communication as part of the six priorities of the National Quality Strategy (NQS). 2016. http://www.ahrq.gov/workingforquality/. Accessed 6 Mar 2016.

  12. National Quality Forum. Importance criteria and identifying a performance gap by variation of care. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwjBtKbDgtLLAhXGNT4KHYBFAYQQFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.qualityforum.org%2Fdocs%2FMeasure_Evaluation_Criteria_Guidance.aspx&usg=AFQjCNF2d2f3UIhxRdFXkGFqNeP0EGgNHg. Accessed 6 Mar 2016.

  13. Gundersen Health System. Patient portal for communication test results ‘My Care’. 2016. http://www.gundersenhealth.org/mycare/information. Accessed 6 Mar 2016.

  14. Landercasper J, Linebarger JH, Ellis RL, et al. A quality review of the timeliness of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in an integrated breast center. J Am Coll Surg. 2010;210(4):449–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Berman A, Teig B, Duracinsky M, et al. One day diagnosis for breast lesions: medical and psychological assessment—EVADIASEIN study [in French]. J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris). 2016;45(1):21–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Barentsz MW, Wessels H, van Diest PJ, et al. Same-day diagnosis based on histology for women suspected of breast cancer: high diagnostic accuracy and favorable impact on the patient. PLoS One. 2014;9(7):e103–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Krishnan N, Fagerlin A, Skolarus TA. Rethinking patient-physician communication of biopsy results: the waiting game. JAMA Oncol. 2015;1(8):1025–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Fayanju OM, Mayo TL, Spinks TE, et al. Value-based breast cancer care: a multidisciplinary approach for defining patient-centered outcomes. Ann Surg Oncol. 2016;94(4):719–28.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Bleicher RJ, Ruth K, Sigurdson ER, et al. Time to surgery and breast cancer survival in the United States. JAMA Oncol. 2016;2(3):330–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Atisha DM, Rushing CN, Samsa GP, et al. A national snapshot of satisfaction with breast cancer procedures. Ann Surg Oncol. 2015;22:361–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to acknowledge the Norma J. Vinger Center for Breast Care, the Gundersen Medical Foundation, and Ms. Choua Vang for financial support, statistical support, and manuscript assistance, respectively. In addition, we would like to acknowledge the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and Living Beyond Breast Cancer for assistance with distributing the survey using their social media channels.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Deanna J. Attai MD FACS

  2. Doctors Community Hospital, Lanham, MD, USA

    Regina Hampton MD FACS

  3. Akari Health, Charlestown, MA, USA

    Alicia C. Staley BS, MBA, MS

  4. Gundersen Medical Foundation, La Crosse, WI, USA

    Andrew Borgert PhD & Jeffrey Landercasper MD FACS

  5. Norma J. Vinger Center for Breast Care, Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, WI, USA

    Jeffrey Landercasper MD FACS

  6. UCLA Health Burbank Breast Care, Burbank, CA, USA

    Deanna J. Attai MD FACS

Authors
  1. Deanna J. Attai MD FACS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Regina Hampton MD FACS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alicia C. Staley BS, MBA, MS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Andrew Borgert PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jeffrey Landercasper MD FACS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deanna J. Attai MD FACS.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Attai, D.J., Hampton, R., Staley, A.C. et al. What Do Patients Prefer? Understanding Patient Perspectives on Receiving a New Breast Cancer Diagnosis. Ann Surg Oncol 23, 3182–3189 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-016-5312-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-016-5312-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation