April 1999, Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages 11 - 15

Paper

Distinguishing styles of practice among physicians who treat breast cancer DI Gregorio Assistant Professor of Community Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030-6205, USA      Correspondence to: DavidI Gregorio Phd, MS , Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington CT, USA 06030-6205

Keywords

chemotherapy;   oncology;   breast cancer;   practice management

Abstract

Detailed interviews with 25 practicing oncologists about how treatment plans for breast cancer patients are set revealed several distinctive practice styles. Criteria that could be used to differentiate physicians include their orientation toward decision-making (autonomous or shared) and their orientation toward therapy (cases requiring treatment or individuals needing care). To illustrate the range of differences observed, four characterizations of practice styles (‘Scientists’, ‘Pragmatists’, ‘Calculators’, and ‘Facilitators’) are offered. These findings suggest that the orientation of physicians toward their practice of medicine could be an important factor in understanding the range of therapies offered to women with breast cancer.

Received 12 November 1998; Accepted 21 December 1998

^© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 1999