Multiple physician recommendations for prostate cancer treatment: a Pandora's box for patients?
OBJECTIVE
Patients turn to their physicians for information and guidance when making a prostate cancer treatment decision. The objectives of this study were to determine the likelihood of men consulting with and receiving treatment recommendations from different providers (urologists, radiation oncologists, and primary care physicians), the content of these recommendations, the perceived influence of recommendations and which recommendations, if any, were associated with prostate cancer treatment decisions.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty-eight participants with localized prostate cancer completed a survey regarding their treatment decision-making process. Associations between treatment choice and urologist recommendations, consultations with radiation oncologists and primary care physicians, potential side effects and other factors were examined using regression analysis.


RESULTS
Among men consulting multiple providers, more than half received at least one treatment recommendation. Most men chose a treatment recommended by at least one provider. The likelihood of choosing a treatment increased when the urologist recommended it. Consulting a radiation oncologist decreased and increased likelihood of choosing a radical prostatectomy and radiation, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Most men consulted multiple providers and received multiple treatment recommendations. Recommendations appear to play a significant role in prostate cancer treatment decision-making.
Department of Urology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263, USA.
Willie
W
Underwood
Heather
H
Orom
Michael
M
Poch
Brady T
BT
West
Paula M
PM
Lantz
Sam S
SS
Chang
Jay H
JH
Fowke
D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D018787:Radiation Oncology; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014572:Urology