Physicians’ Perspectives on and Experiences with Breast Cancer Patient Involvement in Health Care

Abstract

Background: The traditional paternalistic model of medicine has been evolving toward a participatory model in which patients and clinicians work in partnership toward the common goal of improved health. Objective(s): This study aims to explore physicians’ perspectives on and experiences with breast cancer patient involvement in cancer care. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 38 physicians in surgery and oncology outpatient clinics and surgery inpatient wards at the Medical Research Institute Hospital-Alexandria University and Ayadi El-Mostakbal Cancer Care Center-Alexandria, Eygpt. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on physicians’ perspectives on patient involvement. Results: Only 8% of the physicians indicated high involvement of their patients. “Receiving enough information” and “knowing the benefits and risks of treatment” were the most frequently reported areas of patient involvement (57.9%). The doctors ranked “low education and low social level” and “lack of awareness” as the most important patient-related barriers and “complex routines” and “unavailability of awareness-raising programs” as the highest-ranked organization-related barriers. Conclusion: Findings of the present study revealed that physicians lack a supportive system to promote patient involvement and that patient involvement needs to be enhanced especially in the public sector.

Keywords

• patient involvement; physicians; breast cancer; egypt