Physician-patient interaction and hysterectomy decision making: the ENDOW study. Ethnicity, Needs, and Decisions of Women
Richter, D.L.; Kenzig, M.J.; Greaney, M.L.; McKeown, R.E.; Saunders, R.P.; Corwin, S.J.
American Journal of Health Behavior 26(6): 431-441
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 1087-3244 PMID: 12437018 DOI: 10.5993/ajhb.26.6.4Document Number: 248907
To investigate physician-patient communication in the context of hysterectomy decision making. A series of 17 focus groups with African American and white women (n=82) between the ages of 30 and 65 were run. Personal interviews with physicians (n=7) also were conducted. Transcripts were analyzed using NUD*IST software and note-based techniques. For both patients and physicians, the optimal physician-patient interaction would be for the physician to provide plain, usable information to the patient allowing the patient to make the hysterectomy decision. The current state of physician-patient interaction represents collaboration but not a shared approach approximating the deliberative model.