Equity in patient-provider communication regarding treatment-related symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among breast cancer survivors.

127 Background: Compared with white breast cancer patients, black patients more often report inadequate symptom control and decrements in health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Racial differences in patient-provider communication (PPC) are well-documented and linked to worse health outcomes for minorities; however, less is known about inequities in symptom and HRQOL discussions among cancer patients and providers. As part of an NCI-funded systems change intervention to improve racial equity in treatment completion among Black and White cancer patients, we assessed racial differences in PPC regarding treatment-related symptoms, HRQOL issues (e.g., physical, psychosocial, financial, and spiritual well-being), and symptom management among breast cancer survivors (BCS). Methods: We conducted 6 focus groups (FGs) and semi-structured interviews with 22 stage 1-3 BCS (3 black FGs; 3 white FGs) from 2 cancer centers. Guided by a community-based participatory research approach, our diverse community-academic-medi...