[Truth disclosure to patients diagnosed with cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To find the sort of information given to cancer patients in PC and the factors which affect the disclosure of the diagnosis.


METHODS
A descriptive crossover study, carried out through a personal interview.


METHODS
A county hospital with no oncology service.


METHODS
All those patients with cancer (histologically confirmed) admitted to the hospital during April and May 1993.


RESULTS
Each patient was asked what illness he/she had, who told him/her and where, along with his/her sociodemographic details. Later the date of diagnosis and the site and spread of the tumour were taken from the medical records. Out of 108 patients under study, 8 knew they had cancer, 1 said he/she had a tumour and 11 believed they had "something bad". 7 patients had no information about their illness and 81 gave alternative diagnoses (inflammation, cyst...). Disclosure was more common in the cases of breast cancer, haematological cancer and those diagnosed over 6 months previously. No significant differences regarding the spread of the tumour or the sociodemographic variables were found.


CONCLUSIONS
The disclosure of a diagnosis of cancer is the exception, not the rule. Concealment is only abandoned in the case of potentially curable tumours and those which offer a longer life expectancy.
Cimas Hernando
J E
JE
Hospital San Agustń, Avilés, Asturias.
Rodríguez-Gordaliza
F
F
Fernández-Díaz
M C
MC
López-Muñiz
C N
CN
Camblor
A
A
Villanueva
M
M
D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D014342:Truth Disclosure
Revelación de la verdad a pacientes diagnosticados de cáncer.