Does physician communication style impact patient report of decision quality for breast cancer treatment?
OBJECTIVE
Provider communication that supports patient autonomy has been associated with numerous positive patient outcomes. However, to date, no research has examined the relationship between perceived provider communication style and patient-assessed decision quality in breast cancer.


METHODS
Using a population-based sample of women with localized breast cancer, we assessed patient perceptions of autonomy-supportive communication from their surgeons and medical oncologists, as well as patient-reported decision quality. We used multivariable linear regression to examine the association between autonomy-supportive communication and subjective decision quality for surgery and chemotherapy decisions, controlling for sociodemographic and clinical factors, as well as patient-reported communication preference (non-directive or directive).


RESULTS
Among the 1690 women included in the overall sample, patient-reported decision quality scores were positively associated with higher levels of perceived autonomy-supportive communication from surgeons (β=0.30; p<0.001) and medical oncologists (β=0.26; p<0.001). Patient communication style preference moderated the association between physician communication style received and perceived decision quality.


CONCLUSION
Autonomy-supportive communication by physicians was associated with higher subjective decision quality among women with localized breast cancer. These results support future efforts to design interventions that enhance autonomy-supportive communication.


PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS
Autonomy-supportive communication by cancer doctors can improve patients' perceived decision quality.
['Martinez|Kathryn A|KA|', 'Resnicow|Ken|K|', 'Williams|Geoffrey C|GC|', 'Silva|Marlene|M|', 'Abrahamse|Paul|P|', 'Shumway|Dean A|DA|', 'Wallner|Lauren P|LP|', 'Katz|Steven J|SJ|', 'Hawley|Sarah T|ST|']
D000328:Adult D001943:Breast Neoplasms D003142:Communication D003657:Decision Making D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008875:Middle Aged D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care D010358:Patient Participation D017060:Patient Satisfaction D026684:Personal Autonomy D010817:Physician-Patient Relations D010820:Physicians
Decision quality Breast cancer Provider communication Patient autonomy Decision making