title: Preferences for disclosure of disease related information among thoracic cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cancer patients in developed countries increasingly express a preference for more detailed information and involvement in decisions about their care. However, data is sparse and conflicting on preferences of ethnic minorities and immigrants. We aimed to identify preferences for illness related information and correlates with clinical characteristics among patients with thoracic cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and fifty two consecutive cancer patients seen at the Thoracic Oncology Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Israel, participated in the study. Prior to their first oncologist visit, patients completed a questionnaire eliciting their preferences for disclosure of illness related information - full, partial or none - as well as additional demographic information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty four percent of subjects requested full disclosure of disease related information including bad news. Patient age, gender, marital status, birth country, immigration status and smoking status were not associated with disclosure preferences. Patients who refused complete-disclosure were more likely to have metastatic disease with a 2.72 odds ratio (95% confidence interval 1.29-5.74).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most Israeli thoracic cancer patients request full disclosure of illness related information. This preference seems more significantly correlated to disease stage than demographic characteristics.
authors: Institute of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors: Tal
authors: T
authors: Sella
authors: Institute of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors: Dana
authors: D
authors: Botser
authors: Institute of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors: Rossie
authors: R
authors: Navon
authors: Institute of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors: Haim
authors: H
authors: Biran
authors: Institute of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors: Shiri
authors: S
authors: Tenenbaum
authors: Institute of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors: Damien
authors: D
authors: Urban
authors: Institute of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors: Amir
authors: A
authors: Onn
authors: Institute of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: yair.bar@sheba.health.gov.il.
authors: Jair
authors: J
authors: Bar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D014342:Truth Disclosure
keywords: Information disclosure; Migrants; Patient preferences; Smoking; Thoracic cancer