title: African American women with breast cancer and their spouses' perception of care received from physicians.
abstract: Several studies have been conducted which have examined the communication patterns and interpersonal relationships among minority patients and their physicians. These studies suggest that there are differences in the care received from physicians based on the racial and cultural background of the patient. However, little is known about the interpersonal relationships and communication patterns of AA couples coping with a breast cancer diagnosis and their physicians. This report presents the outcomes of a qualitative study undertaken to examine the perceptions of breast cancer care rendered by physicians to African American couples. The AA couples involved in the study reported that the care they received was compassionate, competent, comprehensive and comparable to other women. Each of these qualities was identified by as being essential to quality patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Fayetteville State University, NC 28301, USA. pmorgan@uncfsu.edu
authors.forename: Phyllis D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Bobbie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Perdue
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fogel
authors.forename: Sandra Millon
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.forename: Melvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaskins
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brown-Davis
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003142:Communication; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008873:Mid-Atlantic Region; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011287:Prejudice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000208:ethnology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires