El-Sayed, E., Dowidar, N., Mehanna, A. (2020). Physicians’ Perspectives on and Experiences with Breast Cancer Patient Involvement in Health Care. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 50(3), 165-171. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2020.129052
Eiman El-Sayed; Nabil Dowidar; Azza Mehanna. "Physicians’ Perspectives on and Experiences with Breast Cancer Patient Involvement in Health Care". Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 50, 3, 2020, 165-171. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2020.129052
El-Sayed, E., Dowidar, N., Mehanna, A. (2020). 'Physicians’ Perspectives on and Experiences with Breast Cancer Patient Involvement in Health Care', Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 50(3), pp. 165-171. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2020.129052
El-Sayed, E., Dowidar, N., Mehanna, A. Physicians’ Perspectives on and Experiences with Breast Cancer Patient Involvement in Health Care. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 2020; 50(3): 165-171. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2020.129052
Physicians’ Perspectives on and Experiences with Breast Cancer Patient Involvement in Health Care
1Health Governance Unit, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt
2High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt
Abstract
Background: The traditional paternalistic model of medicine has been evolving toward a participatory model in which patients and clinicians work in partnership toward the common goal of improved health. Objective(s): This study aims to explore physicians’ perspectives on and experiences with breast cancer patient involvement in cancer care. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 38 physicians in surgery and oncology outpatient clinics and surgery inpatient wards at the Medical Research Institute Hospital-Alexandria University and Ayadi El-Mostakbal Cancer Care Center-Alexandria, Eygpt. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on physicians’ perspectives on patient involvement. Results: Only 8% of the physicians indicated high involvement of their patients. “Receiving enough information” and “knowing the benefits and risks of treatment” were the most frequently reported areas of patient involvement (57.9%). The doctors ranked “low education and low social level” and “lack of awareness” as the most important patient-related barriers and “complex routines” and “unavailability of awareness-raising programs” as the highest-ranked organization-related barriers. Conclusion: Findings of the present study revealed that physicians lack a supportive system to promote patient involvement and that patient involvement needs to be enhanced especially in the public sector.