Date of Conferral
2023
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Health Services
Advisor
Martina R. Steed
Abstract
In 2021, colorectal cancer was the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, where screening prevented 46%–63% of colorectal cancer deaths. Compassionate care has been an area of study among scholars since Hippocrates. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to examine whether there was a relationship between the independent variables of provider compassion, patient gender, and length of provider patient relationship with the dependent variable of patient adherence behavior for prescribed colorectal cancer screening tests among primary care patients between 2019 and 2020 in a northeastern U.S. state. Guided by the theory of planned behavior as the framework for this study and using a sample size of 488 patients, a logistical regression analysis resulted in no statistically significant relationships between physician compassion, patient gender, length of provider patient relationship, and patient adherence to prescribed colorectal screening. However, the sample reported a higher colorectal cancer screening rate and a higher-than-average compassion score. The study contributes to positive social change by empowering physicians to focus on compassionate care through the emphasis on compassionate care relationships that may inspire cancer screening adherence and potentially save lives.
Recommended Citation
Winn, Christine Caputo, "Patient-Rated Physician Compassion and Patient Compliance with Colorectal Cancer Screening" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 11889.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/11889
