The involvement of partners in breast cancer treatment decision making.

6023 Background: Incorporating partners into treatment decision making is an important element of patient-centered care, yet little is known about the role of partners in the decision process. Methods: We surveyed 503 partners of a population-based sample of breast cancer survivor 4 years after diagnosis (RR= 76%, N=382).The outcome was partners’ reports of decision regret. Independent variables included decision making process measures (partners’ reports of sufficient treatment information receipt and sufficient involvement in decision making), race/ethnicity, age, education and income. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associations between decision regret and race/ethnicity, controlling for other variables. Results: 49% of partners were white, 14% African American, 15% more-acculturated Latino, and 18% less-acculturated Latino. One quarter (26%) of partners reported that they received insufficient information and one third (35%) desired more involvement in decision-making. Compared to whites, less-acculturated Latino partners more often reported that they received insufficient information (41% vs. 18%, p<0.05) and desired more involvement in decision-making (49% vs. 14%, p<0.001). Overall 30% of partners reported high decision regret. Multivariate analyses showed factors associated with high decision regret were less-acculturated Latinos, insufficient information receipt and desire for more involvement (Table). Conclusions: Most partners of breast cancer survivors reported low decision regret and positively appraised their involvement in the decision process. Less acculturated Latinos reported more dissatisfaction with the decision process. Findings suggest the need for culturally appropriate treatment decision support interventions that include partners. [Table: see text]