Physician-patient interaction and hysterectomy decision making: the ENDOW study. Ethnicity, Needs, and Decisions of Women.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate physician-patient communication in the context of hysterectomy decision making.


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
The current state of physician-patient interaction represents collaboration but not a shared approach approximating the deliberative model.
Richter
Donna L
DL
Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior, Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia 29208, USA. drichter@gwm.sc.edu
Kenzig
Melissa J
MJ
Greaney
Mary L
ML
McKeown
Robert E
RE
Saunders
Ruth P
RP
Corwin
Sara J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006176:Gynecology; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009774:Obstetrics; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013022:South Carolina; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*; D016387:Women's Health