title: African American Women's Recollected Experiences of Adherence to Breast Cancer Treatment.
abstract: To explore African American women's recollected experiences of breast cancer treatment. .
  
  
  
  Qualitative description and narrative analysis. .
  
  
  
  South Carolina Oncology Associates, an outpatient oncology clinic serving rural and urban populations. .
  
  
  
  16 African American women with breast cancer previously enrolled in the control arm (n = 93) of a completed randomized, controlled trial.  .
  
  
  
  Feminist narrative analysis of in-depth individual interviews. .
  
  
  
  The authors identified three themes within the African American breast cancer survivors' recollected experiences of treatment adherence.
  
  
  
  Although little evidence was presented of shared decision making with providers, patients were committed to completing the prescribed therapies. The narratives highlighted the value of in-depth examination of patients' perspectives, particularly among minority and underserved groups. With the exception of voicing personal choice of surgical treatment, the women trusted providers' recommendations with a resolve to "just do it." Although trust may enhance treatment adherence, it may also reflect power differentials based on gender, race, education, and culture. .
  
  
  
  Nurses should listen to patients describe their experience with cancer treatment and compare the themes from this study with their patients' story. This comparison will help nurses support patients through various aspect of diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Palmetto Health, South Carolina Cancer Center, Columbia.
authors.forename: Sue P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Heiney
authors.affiliation: University of South Carolina.
authors.forename: DeAnne K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Hilfinger Messias
authors.affiliation: University of South Carolina.
authors.forename: Tisha M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Felder
authors.affiliation: University of South Carolina.
authors.forename: Kenneth W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Phelps
authors.affiliation: South University.
authors.forename: Jada C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Quinn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000073116:Cancer Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D013022:South Carolina / Q000208:ethnology; D000074822:Treatment Adherence and Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: African American; breast cancer; survivorship; treatment adherence ; treatment decision making