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This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2004.057950v2 95/12/2225    most recent Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Katz, S. J. Articles by Deapen, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Katz, S. J. Articles by Deapen, D. Related Collections Access to Care Hispanics/Latinos Socioeconomic Factors Cancer Women's Health

Steven J. Katz, MD, MPH, Paula M. Lantz, PhD, Yvonne Paredes, MPH, Nancy K. Janz, PhD, Angela Fagerlin, PhD, Lihua Liu, PhD and Dennis Deapen, DrPH

At the time of the study, Steven J. Katz was with the Departments of Medicine and Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and VA Health Services Research and Development, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor. Paula M. Lantz was with the Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Yvonne Paredes was with the Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Nancy K. Janz was with the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Angela Fagerlin was with the Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and VA Health Services Research and Development, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor. Lihua Liu and Dennis Deapen were with the Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Steven J. Katz, MD, MPH, Departments of Medicine and Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan, 300 N. Ingalls, Suite 7E12, Box 0429, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0429 (e-mail: skatz{at}umich.edu).

Objective. We examined breast cancer treatment experiences of and outcomes for Latinas in Los Angeles County.

Methods. We conducted a population-based survey of women who were diagnosed with breast cancer between December 2001 and November 2002 (n=910) to evaluate the types of treatments received, communication with clinicians, and satisfaction.

Results. About two thirds were non-Latina White, 18.8% were African American, and 18.9% were Latina (with 11.0% preferring English and 7.9% preferring Spanish). The rest indicated other ethnic groups. Latinas who preferred Spanish were more likely to experience a delay of 3 months or more from diagnosis to surgical treatment (36.4% vs 9.1% for non-Latina Whites, 18.6% for African Americans, and 12.7%, for other Latinas, P<.001). African Americans and Latinas who preferred Spanish had very low rates of reconstruction (13.8% and 9.2%, respectively, compared with 42.1% for Whites and 34.5% for Latinas who preferred English, P=.009). Latinas who preferred Spanish had the highest odds ratio for low satisfaction.

Conclusion. Latinas who preferred Spanish received different treatments and perceived a different treatment experience than did other cultural groups.