Development of a question prompt list as a communication intervention to reduce racial disparities in cancer treatment

J Cancer Educ. 2013 Jun;28(2):282-9. doi: 10.1007/s13187-013-0456-2.

Abstract

Racial disparities have been found in the use of chemotherapy as cancer treatment. These disparities may be, in part, due to well-documented differences in the quality of communication during clinical interactions with oncologists and Black versus White patients. In this study using a community-based participatory research approach, academic researchers, community members, and oncologists formed a partnership to develop a communication intervention to address racial disparities in cancer care. Partners developed a question prompt list (QPL), a simple tool that can be used to improve communication, and thus treatment, during clinical interactions in which oncologists and Black patients discuss chemotherapy. Partners endorsed the use of a QPL, provided specific suggestions for content and format, conducted and analyzed qualitative interviews with Black patients receiving chemotherapy, and approved the final version. The feasibility and effectiveness of the QPL that resulted from this research process are currently under evaluation in a separate study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Breast Neoplasms / psychology
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Colonic Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / psychology
  • Communication*
  • Community-Based Participatory Research
  • Female
  • Healthcare Disparities / ethnology*
  • Humans
  • Interview, Psychological
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / ethnology*
  • Neoplasms / psychology
  • Patient Education as Topic*
  • Patient Participation
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Physician-Patient Relations*
  • Rectal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Rectal Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Rectal Neoplasms / psychology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*