Latino patients' desire to participate in informed decisions regarding colorectal cancer screening

Norma P Fernandez, The University of Texas School of Public Health

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has become a public health concern due to the underutilization of the various screening methods. There is a need to understand a patient's decision making process in regards to their health and obtaining the appropriate screening. Previous research has defined patient autonomy in two dimensions: The patient's involvement in the decision making process and their desire to be informed (Ende, Kazis, Ash, & Moskowitz, 1989). Past research shows that patients have a high desire to be informed, but a low desire to be involved in the medical decision process. Deber, Kraetschmer, and Irvine (1996) developed a measure which consisted of two subscales that measures patients' involvement: Patient's desire to be involved in the problem solving (PS) and decision making (DM) process. Little research has examined the desire for involvement and decision making of Latino populations. The present study sought to investigate the psychometric properties of the Deber et al. (1996) measure. In general, Latino patients in the present sample had low desire for autonomy in health decisions or to be involved in the decision making processes of their health related issues.

Subject Area

Public health|Hispanic Americans

Recommended Citation

Fernandez, Norma P, "Latino patients' desire to participate in informed decisions regarding colorectal cancer screening" (2007). Texas Medical Center Dissertations (via ProQuest). AAI1447174.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/dissertations/AAI1447174

Share

COinS