Parental Status in Treatment Decision Making among Women with Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer

Patricia I. Jewett, Rachel I. Vogel, Mary C. Schroeder, Joan M. Neuner and Anne H. Blaes
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Patricia I. Jewett: Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Rachel I. Vogel: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Mary C. Schroeder: Division of Health Services Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Joan M. Neuner: Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Anne H. Blaes: Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Medical Decision Making, 2020, vol. 40, issue 4, 540-544

Abstract: Background. Having dependent children may affect cancer treatment decisions. We sought to describe women’s surgery and chemotherapy decisions in nonmetastatic breast cancer by parental status. Methods. We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2015 cross-sectional Share Thoughts on Breast Cancer Study, conducted in 7 Midwestern states in the United States, restricted to women of prime parenting age (aged 20–50 years) who consented to the use of their medical records ( N = 225). We examined treatment decisions using data visualization and logistic regression (adjusted for age, stage, family history of breast cancer, income, education, race, health insurance, and partner status). Results. Women with dependent children received bilateral mastectomy more often than women without dependent children (adjusted odds ratio 3.09, 95% confidence interval 1.44–6.62).We found no differences in the receipt of chemotherapy by parental status. Women reported more active roles in surgery than in chemotherapy decision making. Conclusions. As a likely factor in cancer treatment decisions, parental status should be addressed in clinical practice and research. Future research should assess patients’ sense of ownership in treatment decision making by treatment type.

Keywords: bilateral mastectomy; breast cancer treatment decisions; nonmetastatic breast cancer; parenting with cancer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:medema:v:40:y:2020:i:4:p:540-544

DOI: 10.1177/0272989X20918606

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