Problem:  Little research has explored patient-physician communication among minority women with breast cancer.  Available literature indicates that a lack of trust and communication between minority women and their physicians play a role in maintaining health disparities among minority women.

Purpose:  The purpose of this research is to describe patient-physician communication among minority women with advanced breast cancer and to begin to identify differences in the experiences of patient-physician communication among minority and white women with advanced breast cancer. 

Methods: This qualitative study is a secondary analysis of a larger pilot study sample of 15 women with advanced breast cancer who were individually interviewed about self- management practices, including patient physician communication. The present study analyzed six transcripts (3 white respondents, 3 minority respondents) for experiences of patient-physician communication.

Findings:  Trust, communication, health disparities, outcomes, and goals were the five themes that emerged from the women’s transcripts.  The minority women expressed a lack of trust and communication with their physicians.  The white women expressed an established trust and active communication.  All women had the same goals of wanting the highest quality of life.Discussion:  These findings are supported by the literature.  A lack of trust and communication among minority women and their physicians may lead to health disparities and poor outcomes. This gap in communication can make it difficult for minority women to establish a working relationship with their physicians.  Even though all the women had the same goals, it may be harder for minority women to achieve their goals without a strong relationship with their physician. 

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