Culture and medical decision making: Patient perspectives in Japan and the U.S
Alden,D. Friend,J. Lee,A.Y. de Vries,Marieke Osawa,R. Chen,Q.
Alden,D.
Friend,J.
Lee,A.Y.
de Vries,Marieke
Osawa,R.
Chen,Q.
Abstract
Objective: Two studies identified core value influences on medical decision-making processes across and within cultures. Methods: In Study 1, Japanese and American adults reported desired levels of medical decision-making influence across conditions that varied in seriousness. Cultural antecedents (interdependence, independence, and power distance) were also measured. In Study 2, American adults reviewed a colorectal cancer screening decision aid. Decision preparedness was measured along with interdependence, independence, and desire for medical information. Results: In Study 1, higher interdependence predicted stronger desire for decision-making information in both countries, but was significantly stronger in Japan. The path from information desire to decision-making influence desire was significant only in Japan. The independence path to desire for decision-making influence was significant only in the United States. Power distance effects negatively predicted desire for decision-making influence only in the United States. For Study 2, high (low) interdependents and women (men) in the United States felt that a colorectal cancer screening decision aid helped prepare them more (less) for a medical consultation. Low interdependent men were at significantly higher risk for low decision preparedness. Conclusions: Study 1 suggests that Japanese participants may tend to view medical decision-making influence as an interdependent, information sharing exchange, whereas American respondents may be more interested in power sharing that emphasizes greater independence. Study 2 demonstrates the need to assess value influences on medical decision-making processes within and across cultures and suggests that individually tailored versions of decision aids may optimize decision preparedness.
Description
Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
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Journal Issue
Keywords
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Citation
Alden, D, Friend, J, Lee, A Y, de Vries, M, Osawa, R & Chen, Q 2015, 'Culture and medical decision making : Patient perspectives in Japan and the U.S', Health Psychology, vol. 34, no. 12, pp. 1133-1144. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000229
License
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess