title: [Quality of diagnosis information given to terminal cancer patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the information that terminal cancer patients have about their diagnosis, identifying key words used, and quantifying the conspiracy of silence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted by reviewing the hospice support team data base which contains the medical history and a semi-structured interview with terminal cancer patients in the first visit to the hospice. Demographic and socioeconomic data was collected, as well as relevant clinical information (diagnosis, prevalent symptoms, number of symptoms, patient functionality, QoL, information given, and words used).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of total of sample of 723 records, 77.87% (95% CI: 74.70-80.74) of the patients were properly informed about their diagnosis. The most used words were cancer in 26% of the patients, tumour in 51.59%, and for the remaining 10.65%, the word inflammation was used. Statistically significant differences of information were found between sexes, age, types of cancer, and hospital ward.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Terminal cancer patients have knowledge on their diagnosis, suggesting that the conspiracy of silence is present to a lesser extent. This knowledge is transmitted using different words and with euphemisms.
authors.affiliation: Unidad Funcional Interdisciplinaria Sociosanitaria (UFISS), Unidad de Cuidados Paliativos, Hospital de Mataró, Mataró, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: sfont@csdm.cat.
authors.forename: Sergi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Font-Ritort
authors.affiliation: Unidad Funcional Interdisciplinaria Sociosanitaria (UFISS), Unidad de Cuidados Paliativos, Hospital de Mataró, Mataró, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martos-Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Oncología Médica, Institut Clínic de Malalties Hematòlogiques i Oncològiques (ICMHO), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montoro-Lorite
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Soporte a la Investigación Enfermera, Hospital de Mataró, Mataró, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mundet-Pons
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D013727:Terminal Care
keywords: Cancer; Communication; Comunicación; Cuidados paliativos; Cáncer; Palliative care; Revelación de la verdad; Truth disclosure