No news is not good news: Information preferences of patients with cancer

摘要: Many patients express dissatisfaction with clinicians' information-giving. When the information is complex or potentially upsetting, clinicians may deliberately withhold information, especially if they lack skills to handle patients' emotional reactions. Others underestimate amount of require. In this study, a heterogeneous sample 101 participating in trial assessing benefits receiving audio-taped recordings their ‘bad news’ consultations, completed questionnaire similar Cassileth's Information Styles Questionnaire. This assessed preferences for both general and specific about disease its treatment. Of sample, 94% expressed desire as much possible from oncologist, be it good bad; 4% wished only was news 2% declined extra preferring leave things up doctor. Patients wanting less no were older had poorer prognoses than those full disclosure. Although precise needs varied between patients, study showed that cancer wish well-informed diagnosis, prognosis, therapeutic options side-effects.