Factors related to truth-telling practice of physicians treating patients with cancer in Turkey.
BACKGROUND
In the practice of oncology, effective communication between physician and patient is very important. Although many studies have indicated that a large majority of physicians, especially from Western countries, tell the truth about diagnosis and prognosis, little is known about attitudes of physicians in Turkey toward truth-telling.


OBJECTIVE
In this study, we tried to determine the truth-telling practice of physicians and explore potential related factors with a self-reported questionnaire.


METHODS
Using a questionnaire, 131 cancer specialists were interviewed during the 15th National Oncology Meeting in April 2003.


RESULTS
The percentage of physicians who never, rarely, generally, and always prefer truthtelling about a cancer diagnosis were 9%, 39%, 45%, and 7%, respectively. In univariate logistic regression analysis for the truth-telling practice, significant variables included "do not tell" requests from family, experiences from medical training and clinical practice, and medical specialty. In the multivariate analysis, "do not tell" requests from relatives and medical training factors retained their significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Professional training in breaking bad news is important and is associated with the self-reported truth-telling practices of physicians.
Ozdogan
Mustafa
M
Department of Medical Oncology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey. mustafa0051@hotmail.com
Samur
Mustafa
M
Artac
Mehmet
M
Yildiz
Mustafa
M
Savas
Burhan
B
Bozcuk
Hakan Sat
HS
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D014421:Turkey