[Attitudes of health centre users to diagnoses of terminal illness].
OBJECTIVE
To calculate the prevalence of users who want to know their diagnosis of terminal illness and to analyse the factors determining their decision.


METHODS
Descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Six lists belonging to two Health Districts in Asturias Health Area III.


METHODS
On-demand users of the clinic, over 17 years old, selected by systematic randomized sampling stratified according to the number of consultations at the centre.


RESULTS
Through a questionnaire composed by the researchers and face-to-face interviews, social and personal variables and attitudes to a diagnosis of terminal illness were collected. The sample consisted of 388 people. A descriptive analysis and population calculations were made, with a logistical regression analysis to identify associated variables.


RESULTS
70.6% of those questioned (95% CI, 66%-75.1%) wanted to know their diagnosis, mainly on the basis of their right to the information (35.1%; 95% CI, 29%-40.6%). Most of these wanted to be informed by the doctor (81.9%; CI, 77.5%-86.5%). The variables significantly linked to a positive reply were: male (OR, 1.91; CI, 1.1%-3.4%), age (OR, 0.97; CI, 0.95%-0.99%), religious beliefs (OR, 0.2; CI, 0.1%-0.8% for believers), fear of pain and disability (OR, 3.8; CI, 1.2%-12%), and having previously thought about wanting to be informed (OR, 2.2; CI, 1.2%-4%). This last variable achieved the highest partial correlation coefficient (R, 0.12).


CONCLUSIONS
Most users want to be informed of a diagnosis of terminal illness. The profile of the patient who wants to know the truth is: young male, non-believer, and someone whose main fears of terminal illness are pain and disability. The variable with most influence on the positive reply was having posed the question previously.
Fernández Suárez
A
A
Centro de Salud La Magdalena-Carriona, Area III del INSALUD, Avilés, Asturias, España.
Fernández Alvarez
T
T
Alonso Arruquero
C
C
Marcilla Escotet
M
M
Cortina Viesca
A
A
Conde Rodríguez
M
M
Rubio Domínguez
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014342:Truth Disclosure