ASPO Abstracts
General and cancer-specific psychosocial outcomes among Black breast cancer survivors: Examining the role of acculturation and patient-provider communication
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication
Conference Year: 2020
Abstract Body:
PURPOSE: Following treatment, breast cancer (BC) survivors frequently experience higher levels of anxiety and
depression due to concerns about recurrence and survivorship challenges. Effective provider communication and
patient confidence in communication skills may reduce anxiety and depression. Acculturation may also positively
impact these psychosocial outcomes. We examined the impact of patient-provider communication and
acculturation on psychosocial outcomes among Black BC survivors.
METHODS: Black women ≤50 years diagnosed with invasive BC between 2009-2012 were recruited from the
Florida Cancer Registry (n=351). Women reported patient-provider communication (provider communication
quality, patient confidence in communicating with providers), acculturation (religiosity, collectivism, future time
orientation), general psychosocial factors (anxiety, depression) and BC-specific psychosocial factors (cancer-
related distress, worry about BC recurrence). Patients were categorized into high, moderate, and low levels of
communication and of acculturation. Multiple regression analysis examined communication and acculturation
variables as predictors of general and BC-specific psychosocial factors while controlling for key sociodemographic
variables (marital status, employment, health status and education level).
RESULTS: Level of communication was significantly associated with anxiety (β=-.135, p<.01) and depression
(β=-.103, p<.05). More specifically, those with higher confidence in communication and more positive perceptions
of communication quality were more likely to experience lower levels of anxiety and depression. Level of
acculturation was not significantly associated with any psychosocial outcome.
CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that effective provider communication and patient confidence in communication
skills may reduce patients’ anxiety and depression post-treatment, suggesting that patient-provider relationships
and patient empowerment may be key components of cancer survivorship. Future multi-level interventions should
target patients and providers and focus on improving patient-centered communication skills among providers and
increasing patient self-efficacy in communicating with providers, particularly among cancer survivors.
Keywords: patient-provider communication, breast cancer, psychosocial outcomes