Table 3.
Continuously measured variables and differences by age related to treatment decision process and considerations, psychosocial factors, provider communication and involvement among women with non-metastatic breast cancer interviewed in the BQUAL Study, 2006-2010 (n=1145)
| All (N=1,145) | Age <50 (N=268, 23%) | Age 50-64 (N=543, 47%) | Age ≥ 65 (N=334, 29%) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment Considerations | Mean (SD) | Potential Range | Actual Range | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | pvalue |
| Decision-making considerations for Chemotherapy: | |||||||
| Physical | 0.7 (0.8) | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0.7(0.8) | 0.7(0.8) | 0.8(0.8) | 0.06 |
| Negative balance | 1.6 (1.4) | 0-5 | 0-5 | 1.2(1.3) | 1.5(1.4) | 2.0(1.3) | <0.0001 |
| Positive balance | 2.4 (1.0) | 0-3 | 0-3 | 2.7(0.7) | 2.4(1.0) | 2.0(1.1) | <0.0001 |
| Concrete considerations | 1.1 (1.2) | 0-4 | 0-4 | 1.2(1.2) | 1.0(1.2) | 1.1(1.2) | 0.39 |
| Family and friends | 0.4 (0.5) | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0.4(0.5) | 0.4(0.5) | 0.3(0.5) | 0.12 |
| Decision-making considerations for Hormonal Therapy: | |||||||
| Physical | 0.6 (0.5) | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0.6(0.5) | 0.6(0.5) | 0.6(0.5) | 1.0 |
| Negative balance | 1.1 (1.3) | 0-5 | 0-5 | 1.0(1.3) | 1.1(1.3) | 1.3(1.4) | 0.01 |
| Positive balance | 2.7 (0.7) | 0-3 | 0-3 | 2.8(0.5) | 2.7(0.7) | 2.5(0.8) | <0.0001 |
| Concrete Considerations | 0.8 (1.0) | 0-3 | 0-3 | 0.8(1.1) | 0.7(1.0) | 0.8(1.0) | 0.58 |
| Family and friends | 0.3 (0.5) | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0.3(0.5) | 0.3(0.5) | 0.3(0.5) | 0.99 |
| Psychosocial Factors | |||||||
| Attitude towards Chemotherapy | 2.9 (0.6) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 3.0(0.5) | 2.9(0.6) | 2.7(0.6) | <0.0001 |
| You are less likely to have the cancer come back if you have chemotherapy | 3.0 (1.0) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 3.2(1.0) | 3.0(1.0) | 2.7(1.1) | <0.0001 |
| Chemotherapy does not help you live longer | 1.9 (1.1) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1.7(1.0) | 1.9(1.0) | 2.0(1.1) | 0.001 |
| Chemotherapy could cause long-term health problem | 2.8 (1.0) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 2.7(1.0) | 2.8(0.9) | 2.8(1.0) | 0.06 |
| Chemotherapy is not as effective in older women as it is in younger women | 1.7 (1.0) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1.7(0.9) | 1.7(1.0) | 1.9(1.0) | 0.01 |
| Chemotherapy kills all remaining cancer cells | 2.7 (1.1) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 2.9(1.0) | 2.7(1.1) | 2.5(1.0) | 0.0002 |
| Chemotherapy is experimental | 1.9 (1.0) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1.8(1.0) | 1.9(1.0) | 2.0(1.1) | 0.35 |
| The side effects of chemotherapy are worse than the disease | 2.2 (1.2) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 2.1(1.2) | 2.1(1.1) | 2.4(1.1) | 0.0007 |
| Attitude towards Hormonal Therapy | 2.9 (0.6) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 2.9(0.6) | 3.0(0.5) | 2.9(0.6) | 0.054 |
| You are less likely to have the cancer come back if you have Hormonal Therapy | 3.1 (0.9) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 3.1(0.9) | 3.2(0.9) | 3.1(1.0) | 0.09 |
| Hormonal Therapy does not help you live longer | 1.9 (1.0) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1.8(1.0) | 1.7(1.0) | 2.1(1.1) | <0.0001 |
| Hormonal Therapy could cause long-term health problem | 2.4 (0.9) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 2.5(0.9) | 2.5(0.9) | 2.3(1.0) | 0.02 |
| Hormonal Therapy is not as effective in older women as it is in younger women | 1.7 (0.9) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1.9(1.0) | 1.5(0.8) | 1.8(1.0) | <0.0001 |
| Hormonal Therapy kills all remaining cancer cells | 1.9 (1.0) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1.8(1.0) | 1.9(1.1) | 2.0(1.0) | 0.47 |
| Hormonal Therapy is experimental | 2.1 (1.0) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 2.0(1.0) | 2.1(1.0) | 2.1(1.0) | 0.45 |
| The side effects of Hormonal Therapy are worse than the disease | 1.6 (0.9) | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1.6(0.9) | 1.5(0.9) | 1.6(0.9) | 0.41 |
| Treatment Expectations for Chemotherapy | |||||||
| Fatigue | 6.7 (2.2) | 0-10 | 0-10 | 6.4(2.2) | 6.8(2.2) | 6.6(2.2) | 0.02 |
| Nausea | 5.7 (2.8) | 0-10 | 0-10 | 5.5(2.8) | 5.8(2.8) | 8.8(2.9) | 0.35 |
| Hearing loss | 1.3 (2.2) | 0-10 | 0-10 | 1.1(1.9) | 1.1(2.1) | 1.7(2.4) | 0.001 |
| Pain | 4.3 (2.8) | 0-10 | 0-10 | 4.1(2.6) | 4.3(2.8) | 4.4(2.9) | 0.45 |
| Side effects | 6.4 (2.5) | 0-10 | 0-10 | 6.5(2.5) | 6.5(2.5) | 6.3(2.6) | 0.71 |
| Fatalism | 19.6 (3.2) | 8-32 | 9-31 | 18.9(3.4) | 19.6(3.2) | 20.3(3.0) | <0.0001 |
| Social Support | 4.3 (0.7) | 1-5 | 1.4-5 | 4.3(0.7) | 4.3(0.7) | 4.2(0.6) | 0.76 |
| Emotional/Information Support | 34.1 (4.9) | 8-40 | 8-40 | 34.4(4.7) | 34.3(4.9) | 33.5(4.9) | 0.03 |
| Tangible Support | 17.2 (3.2) | 4-20 | 4-20 | 17.2 (3.2) | 17.3(3.3) | 17.1(3.1) | 0.70 |
| Affectionate Support | 13.7 (2.2) | 3-15 | 3-15 | 13.7(2.2) | 13.7(2.2) | 13.6(2.1) | 0.84 |
| Positive Social Interaction | 12.9 (2.3) | 3-15 | 3-15 | 12.8(2.4) | 12.9(2.3) | 12.9(2.1) | 0.86 |
| Structural Social Support | 14.0 (13.9) | Write-in | 0 – 200 | 13.7(11.1) | 14.9(15.9) | 13.0(10.0) | 0.11 |
| Provider-related Factors and Communication | |||||||
| Patient Involvement in Treatment Decision | 12.5 (2.5) | 3-18 | 4-18 | 12.4(2.4) | 12.6(2.6) | 12.4(2.4) | 0.28 |
| The doctor gave me the responsibility for deciding how to deal with my breast cancer | 4.3 (1.1) | 1-6 | 1-6 | 4.2(1.1) | 4.3(1.2) | 4.3(1.0) | 0.56 |
| The doctor asked me to choose a treatment for my breast cancer | 3.6 (1.2) | 1-6 | 1-6 | 3.5(1.2) | 3.7(1.3) | 3.7(1.1) | 0.19 |
| The doctor gave me all the information needed about my breast cancer | 4.6 (1.0) | 1-6 | 1-6 | 4.6(1.0) | 4.7(1.0) | 4.5(1.0) | 0.08 |
| Provider Communication for Chemotherapy | 18.0 (3.6) | 4-24 | 4 - 24 | 18.1(3.5) | 18.3(3.5) | 17.3(3.6) | 0.0004 |
| The doctor gave you enough information to make your own decision about chemotherapy treatment | 4.8 (1.0) | 1-6 | 1-6 | 4.8(1.0) | 4.8(1.0) | 4.6(1.0) | 0.08 |
| The doctor fully explained the benefits of chemotherapy. | 4.6 (1.1) | 1-6 | 1-6 | 4.7(1.0) | 4.7(1.0) | 4.4(1.1) | <0.0001 |
| The doctor fully explained the risks of chemotherapy | 4.4 (1.1) | 1-6 | 1-6 | 4.5(1.1) | 4.5(1.1) | 4.2(1.2) | 0.0006 |
| The doctor did not ask your opinion about taking chemotherapy. | 2.8 (1.2) | 1-6 | 1-6 | 2.8(1.2) | 2.7(1.2) | 2.8(1.2) | 0.15 |
| Provider Communication for Hormonal Therapy | 15.5 (2.7) | 4-24 | 4-24 | 15.3(2.9) | 15.8(2.5) | 15.3(2.7) | 0.04 |
| The doctor gave you enough information to make your own decision about Hormonal Therapy | 4.4 (1.1) | 1-6 | 1-6 | 4.3(1.2) | 4.4(1.1) | 4.3(1.1) | 0.36 |
| The doctor fully explained the benefits of Hormonal Therapy | 4.4 (1.0) | 1-6 | 1-6 | 4.3(1.0) | 4.5(1.0) | 4.3(1.0) | 0.02 |
| The doctor fully explained the risks of Hormonal Therapy | 4.0 (1.1) | 1-6 | 1-6 | 3.9(1.1) | 4.1(1.1) | 3.9(1.1) | 0.05 |
| The doctor did not ask your opinion about taking Hormonal Therapy | 2.9 (1.2) | 1-6 | 1-6 | 2.9(1.2) | 2.8(1.3) | 2.9(1.1) | 0.77 |
| Medical Mistrust | 20.6 (7.1) | 13-65 | 3-49 | 21.0(7.2) | 20.6(7.3) | 20.3(6.6) | 0.45 |
| Suspicion | 9.2 (3.6) | 6-30 | 2-24 | 9.3(3.5) | 9.2(3.7) | 9.2(3.5) | 0.94 |
| Discrimination | 6.1 (2.7) | 3-15 | 2-15 | 6.3(2.7) | 6.2(2.9) | 5.9(2.4) | 0.21 |
| Lack of support | 5.3 (2.1) | 3-15 | 2-15 | 5.5(2.1) | 5.3(2.1) | 5.2(1.9) | 0.26 |