Cultural influences on the physician-patient encounter: The case of shared treatment decision-making.
OBJECTIVE
In this paper we discuss the influence of culture on the process of treatment decision-making, and in particular, shared treatment decision-making in the physician-patient encounter. We explore two key issues: (1) the meaning of culture and the ways that it can affect treatment decision-making; (2) cultural issues and assumptions underlying the development and use of treatment decision aids.


METHODS
This is a conceptual paper. Based on our knowledge and reading of the key literature in the treatment decision-making field, we looked for written examples where cultural influences were taken into account when discussing the physician-patient encounter and when designing instruments (decision aids) to help patients participate in making decisions.


RESULTS
Our assessment of the situation is that to date, and with some recent exceptions, research in the above areas has not been culturally sensitive.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that more research attention should be focused on exploring potential cultural variations in the meaning of and preferences for shared decision-making as well as on the applicability across cultural groups of decision aids developed to facilitate patient participation in treatment decision-making with physicians.


CONCLUSIONS
Both patients and physicians need to be aware of the cultural assumptions underlying the development and use of decision aids and assess their cultural sensitivity to the needs and preferences of patients in diverse cultural groups.
Charles
Cathy
C
Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, FHS, Rm. 3H5, McMaster University, 1200 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ont. L8N3Z5, Canada. charlesc@mcmaster.ca
Gafni
Amiram
A
Whelan
Tim
T
O'Brien
Mary Ann
MA
D003469:Culture; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations