Disclosure of cancer diagnosis and prognosis: a survey of the general public's attitudes toward doctors and family holding discretionary powers.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to ask a sample of the general population about their preferences regarding doctors holding discretionary powers in relation to disclosing cancer diagnosis and prognosis.


METHODS
The researchers mailed 443 questionnaires to registered voters in a ward of Tokyo which had a socio-demographic profile similar to greater Tokyo's average and received 246 responses (response rate 55.5%). We describe and analysed respondents' attitudes toward doctors and family members holding discretionary powers in relation to cancer diagnoses disclose.


RESULTS
Amongst respondents who wanted full disclosure about the diagnosis without delay, 117 (69.6 %) respondents agreed to follow the doctor's discretion, whilst 111 (66.1 %) respondents agreed to follow the family member's decision. For respondents who preferred to have the diagnosis and prognosis withheld, 59 (26.5 %) agreed to follow the doctor's decision, and 79 (35.3 %) of respondents agreed with following family member's wishes.


CONCLUSIONS
The greater proportion of respondents wants or permits disclosure of cancer diagnosis and prognosis. In patients who reveal negative attitudes toward being given a cancer disclosure directly, alternative options exist such as telling the family ahead of the patient or having a discussion of the cancer diagnosis with the patient together with the family. It is recommended that health professionals become more aware about the need to provide patients with their cancer diagnosis and prognosis in a variety of ways.
Miyata
Hiroaki
H
Department of Social Gerontology, School of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan. h-m@umin.ac.jp.
Tachimori
Hisateru
H
Takahashi
Miyako
M
Saito
Tami
T
Kai
Ichiro
I
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003933:Diagnosis; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010820:Physicians; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011379:Prognosis; D011639:Public Opinion; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014041:Tokyo; D014342:Truth Disclosure