Cancer Disclosure in Iran: Attitude of Patients and Their Families

Background: The present study aims at determining the proportion of clinicalinformation known by the patients with cancer and their families about diagnosisof their disease as well as investigating the different attitudes of patients and theirfamilies towards informing the patients of the malignant nature of the disease.Methods: We designed a structured questionnaire which was completed bypatients with cancer who were under follow up in Cancer Institute of TehranUniversity of Medical Sciences, and one member of their families whoaccompanied them while being treated. Patients, physicians, and patients’ familymembers were interviewed separately.Results: A total of ۲۵۰ cancer outpatients and ۲۵۰ patients’ family memberswere interviewed. Overall, ۲۲۷ patients (۹۰.۸%) desired to be informed of theirdiagnosis, and ۹۸ patients (۳۸.۸%) declared that physicians informed themcompletely. One hundred fifty-three family members (۶۱.۲%) believed thatpatients are entitled to know the truth. Stepwise multiple logistic regressionanalysis indicated that patients’ educational grade (odds ratio: ۶.۰۸; ۹۵% CI, ۱.۲۷to ۲۹.۰۷) and patients’ age (odds ratio: ۷.۹۷; ۹۵% CI, ۱.۲۵ to ۵۰.۵۹) werepredictable factors for requesting to know the truth.Conclusions: Findings of the present research indicated that most patients andfamily members wanted to be informed of the diagnosis; The present studysuggests that physicians respect the patients' rights to know the truth and informthem accordingly. This can help them adapt themselves to new condition andmanage their own life.

Keywords:

Disclosure , patients with cancer , truth telling , families , attitude