Published in:
Open Access
01-12-2017 | Study protocol
The social and behavioral influences (SBI) study: study design and rationale for studying the effects of race and activation on cancer pain management
Authors:
Cezanne M. Elias, Cleveland G. Shields, Jennifer J. Griggs, Kevin Fiscella, Sharon L. Christ, Joseph Colbert, Stephen G. Henry, Beth G. Hoh, Haslyn E. R. Hunte, Mary Marshall, Supriya Gupta Mohile, Sandy Plumb, Mohamedtaki A. Tejani, Alison Venuti, Ronald M. Epstein
Published in:
BMC Cancer
|
Issue 1/2017
Login to get access
Abstract
Background
Racial disparities exist in the care provided to advanced cancer patients. This article describes an investigation designed to advance the science of healthcare disparities by isolating the effects of patient race and patient activation on physician behavior using novel standardized patient (SP) methodology.
Methods/design
The Social and Behavioral Influences (SBI) Study is a National Cancer Institute sponsored trial conducted in Western New York State, Northern/Central Indiana, and lower Michigan. The trial uses an incomplete randomized block design, randomizing physicians to see patients who are either black or white and who are “typical” or “activated” (e.g., ask questions, express opinions, ask for clarification, etc.). The study will enroll 91 physicians.
Discussion
The SBI study addresses important gaps in our knowledge about racial disparities and methods to reduce them in patients with advanced cancer by using standardized patient methodology. This study is innovative in aims, design, and methodology and will point the way to interventions that can reduce racial disparities and discrimination and draw links between implicit attitudes and physician behaviors.