Article Figures & Data
Tables
- Table 1.
Demographic Characteristics of Study Participants - Men with Recently Diagnosed Localized Prostate Cancer
All Interview Participants (n = 47)* Active Patients (n = 10)* Partially Active Patients (n = 25)* Passive Patients (n = 12)* Age (mean, range) 66.7 (59–86) 70.6 (49 to 86) 63.5 (50 to 76) 70 (56 to 86) Educational Attainment N (%) High school or less 15 (31.9%) 1 (10%) 8 (32%) 6 (50%) Some college 9 (19.1%) 0 (0%) 8 (32%) 1 (8.3%) College or more 22 (46.8%) 9 (90%) 9 (36%) 4 (33.3%) Total Household Income N (%) <$50,000 14 (29.8%) 1 (10%) 6 (24%) 7 (58.3%) ≥$50,000 30 (63.8%) 8 (80%) 18 (72%) 4 (33.3%) Race N (%) White 38 (80.9%) 9 (90%) 21 (84%) 8 (66.7%) Black 9 (19.1%) 1 (10%) 4 (16%) 4 (33.3%) Employment Status N (%) Employed 15 (31.9%) 5 (50%) 8 (32%) 2 (16.7%) Unemployed 2 (4.3%) 1 (10%) 1 (4%) 0 (0%) Disabled 4 (8.5%) 0 (0%) 2 (8%) 2 (16.7%) Retired 25 (53.2%) 3 (30%) 14 (56%) 8 (66.7%) Insurance Status N (%) Medicare 20 (42.6%) 7 (70%) 6 (24%) 7 (58.3%) Medicaid 2 (4.3%) 0 (0%) 1 (4%) 1 (8.3%) Private 25 (53.2%) 3 (30%) 18 (72%) 4 (33.3%) ↵* Certain demographic characteristics do not add up to the total number of participants because some participants did not provide all demographic information.
Theme Representative Quote Active Patients (n = 10) N (%) Selecting a Diagnosing Urologist Referral Received a referral from PCP but also researched/chose their own diagnosing urologist “I was the one who chose [the diagnosing urologist] … I looked up on the internet and chose my own specific [diagnosing] urologist.” 5 (50%) Selecting a Specialist for Treatment Referral Received referral/treatment recommendation from diagnosing urologist but ultimately chose a different treating specialist “I just didn't feel comfortable with just saying okay, I'll have [my diagnosing urologist] do the surgery. Because the first question I asked him was how many surgeries have you done. He said about 200, okay? … And I saw a [different treating specialist] … and he's got a national reputation.” 9 (90%) Online Research Did online research “I just looked at their [online] records and how deep a history they had doing this operation, and [the doctor] had done far more operations of this kind than the other fellow …” 10 (100%) Consulted Friends-Family-Co-workers Talked to other men who had prostate cancer “I spoke to a number of people that I knew that had had similar cancer. I then had a choice to make in my own mind between two hospitals.” 8 (80%) Second opinion Sought second opinion after receiving a treatment recommendation/referral to another specialist from urologist “I get a second opinion about buying a garage door. Or when you buy a car, you go to a second or third dealer … that's just a smart way to do things. So when potentially your life is in the balance, why wouldn't you get a second or third opinion?” 7 (70%) Partially Active Patients (n = 25) N (%) Selecting a Diagnosing Urologist Referral Went to diagnosing urologist they were referred to by PCP without additional searches “No, I didn't know nothing about [the specialist] until I was told to go there. He's a really nice guy.” 21 (84%) Existing Urologist Saw previous urologist they were referred to “Well, I already knew that guy from being there once or twice before, and he is–I really liked him. I had a lot of confidence in him.” 3 (12%) Selecting a Specialist for Treatment Referral Received referral/treatment recommendation from diagnosing urologist but ultimately chose a different treating specialist “[My diagnosing urologist] referred me to a radiologist … I went to [a different healthcare facility] also–talked to a doctor there. That's when we decided to have prostate treatment.” 5 (20%) Online Research Did online research “I went to the computer and looked things up about prostate cancer and everything.” 7 (28%) Consulted Friends-Family-Co-workers Talked to friends-family-co-workers “Just word of mouth, knowing the [hospital] system. And my wife just told me, my son-in-law has been a patient for them … He just had good words to say about him. He had never had any problems with him.” 5 (20%) Second Opinion Sought second opinion after receiving a treatment recommendation/referral to another specialist from urologist “We just feel any time there's surgery involved, we should get a second opinion. It's just prudent.” 13 (52%) Did not seek second opinion after receiving a treatment recommendation/referral to another specialist from urologist “We had no second opinion … I just want to get this over with.” 12 (48%) Passive Patients (n = 12) N (%) Selecting a Diagnosing Urologist Referral Went to diagnosing urologist they were referred to by PCP without additional searches “I just went with what my family doctor said … I just went with what was suggested, and I was satisfied.” 9 (75%) Existing Urologist Saw previous urologist they were referred to by PCP “Because a few years back, I had a urology problem … And I called that particular practice, and he was the next doctor that had an appointment, so I saw him.” 3 (25%) Selecting a Specialist for Treatment Referral Saw only their diagnosing urologist and the treating specialists they were referred to by their diagnosing urologist for treatment “[My diagnosing urologist] sent me over to radiation oncology and that's why I saw [the radiation oncologist] … and then [the radiation oncologist] started doing the radiation.” 12 (100%) Second Opinion Did not seek second opinion after receiving a treatment recommendation/referral to another specialist from urologist “I felt that–after my first meeting [with the urologist], … I didn't need a second opinion.” 11 (91.6%) * One passive patient sought a separate specialist to get a stress test because of his cardiac condition before undergoing surgery. The other 11 passive patients did not seek other specialists.
PCP, primary care physician.
Theme Representative Quote Active Patients (n = 10) N (%) Experience Experience level “ … you want somebody that's done as many as you can find that seems like an okay guy because there's nothing like experience, and in surgery … So I had two doctors who had done thousands of these things.” 7 (70%) Reputation Reputation of doctor “I wanted to see the best person at [hospital] for the radiology. And obviously, it was the head of radiology. So, that's the reason I chose him. And it was a good choice … He was extremely good in his field.” 8 (80%) Research “I wanted to be with a hospital that was up-to-date in the latest procedures, technologies, diagnostics, and I thought that both hospitals had that.” 2 (20%) Bedside Manner Bedside manner “I was happy when [my specialist] was very open and communicative. His communication skills were excellent … he said, prepare your questions. I'll answer any–all your questions.” 6 (60%) Partially Active Patients (n = 25) N (%) Experience Experience level “Well, we looked him up on the internet. He got good patient ratings. And we had an initial meeting with him, and we felt we had a good rapport with him. We were comfortable with the way he laid things out, with his experience–he'd done 4000 of these kinds of surgeries.” 9 (36%) Reputation Reputation of facility “Well, one thing I look for in a doctor is where they work … one reason I like [this hospital] is because it's a teaching hospital … since this is a teaching hospital, most of the physicians are up to the moment with current trends and discoveries in the medical fields … ” 8 (32%) Bedside Manner Bedside manner “Gee, you know I guess just competence, somebody who gives you the feeling that they care. Like I said, I like somebody who spends a little bit of time with you. Like when I went to that urologist I felt like I was on the treadmill, an assembly line. When I got out of there, I bet nobody gets out of here without getting biopsy or another appointment.” 12 (48%) Trustworthy Trustworthy “He didn't beat around the bush. You know what I mean? He more or less told you what was gonna happen, and that's what happened.” 9 (36%) Passive Patients (n = 12) N (%) Experience Experience level “[My doctor] has been in this business for a long time, so. That's why I really went to him.” 2 (16.7%) Bedside Manner Bedside manner “Well, I like a doctor that I can sit down and talk to … a doctor who'll spend a little time with you … That is something that's important to me. Somebody I can talk to.” 6 (50%) Trustworthy Trustworthy “Well, see I didn't know the difference between either doctor but, after he told me what he does and done this, I had everything in my heart to trust him … I felt safe and secure right … I never had a problem or anything, so I felt good.” 5 (41.6%)
