Reactions of younger and older women to physicians' styles of presentation of breast cancer treatment options

Abstract

Abstract Women (n = 74) over the age of 40 viewed a videotape presentation in small group settings. There were four versions of the videotape; the version chosen to be shown to each group was determined randomly. Each videotape depicted the same actor, playing the role of physician who was presenting treatment options to a patient who had just been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. These options were lumpectomy with radiation and mastectomy. The videotapes varied along two dimensions: order of presentation of the treatments, and style of the physician (consumer-oriented vs paternalistic). After viewing the videotape participants completed a questionnaire designed to assess their satisfaction with the physician. Women were divided at the median age into an older group and a younger group. As predicted, younger women were more satisfied with the consumer-oriented physician. Older women did not prefer one physician style over the other. There were also some main effects for age, and some unexpected order of presentation effects.