Physician Characteristics: Do They Influence the Evaluation and Treatment of Breast Cancer in Older Women?

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BACKGROUND: To determine if physician specialty, length of time in practice, and fear of malpractice influence the diagnosis and management of breast cancer in older women. METHODS: We used a fractional factorial design that controlled for patient age (65 or 80 years), race, socioeconomic status, mobility, comorbidity, and assertive behavior through 2 videotaped scenarios (a potential breast cancer [no. 1] and a known stage IIA breast cancer [no. 2]). One hundred twenty-eight white male physicians equally divided by specialty (surgeon versus nonsurgeon) and time in practice (≤15 or >15 years) viewed the videotapes and made recommendations. RESULTS: The physician subjects saw 46 patients per week, 59% female, and 47% age ≥65. Their concern over malpractice was 4.7 (on a 10-point Likert scale with a higher score indicating more concern) and did not differ by specialty or time in practice ( P values > 0.7). After viewing scenario no. 1, surgeons were less likely than nonsurgeons to consider breast cancer as the principal diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] = 0.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.2 to 0.9) and to obtain a tissue diagnosis (OR = 0.3, 95% CI = 0.1 to 0.9). However, in scenario no. 2, surgeons were more likely to offer reconstruction (OR = 3.8, 95% CI = 1.4 to 10.4). Physicians in practice ≤15 years were more likely than those in practice <15 years to obtain a tissue diagnosis in scenario no. 1 (OR = 6.1, 95% CI = 1.9 to 19.2) and to perform full primary therapy in scenario no. 2 (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.2 to 6.9). Physicians who performed an extensive metastatic evaluation (bone or computer tomography [CT] scan) had greater concern over malpractice than those who did not, as did physicians who performed an axillary node dissection (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.4 and OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.1 to 3.0). CONCLUSIONS: With the uncertainty of how to diagnose and treat older women with breast cancer, physician specialty, length of time in practice, and concern over malpractice do influence clinical decisions.