Does the cancer patient want to know? Results from a study in an Indian tertiary cancer center

Laxmi, S S; Khan, Joad Anjum

doi:10.4103/2278-330x.110487

Cited by 35 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…The authors concluded that most of the patients wanted to know about their illness and treatment, and the desire for information is significantly greater among younger patients, literate patients, and those receiving treatment with a curative intent. 5 Although the majority of our patients had a lower level of education, we found that most of them desired to know about their illness and treatment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…Although there are many studies done in the West to assess the information needs of the patients with cancer, there has only been one such study done in India. 5 The results of that study indicate a significant association between the age of the patient, level of education, and type of treatment with their information needs. The authors concluded that most of the patients wanted to know about their illness and treatment, and the desire for information is significantly greater among younger patients, literate patients, and those receiving treatment with a curative intent.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“… 4 Nearly 77% of Indian families did not want to disclose the information about cancer to the patient. 5 The information needs can also vary with age, diagnosis, educational status, and intent of treatment. 6 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Desire for Information and Preference for Participation in Treatment Decisions in Patients With Cancer Presenting to the Department of General Surgery in a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Sankar¹,

Dhanapal²,

Shankar³

et al. 2018

JGO

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PurposeProviding appropriate information to patients about their illness helps them to cope with the diagnosis. Shared decision making is a key concept in managing patients with cancer. There are no data available about the desire for information and preference for participation in treatment decisions among Indian patients with cancer. The objective of this study was to estimate the proportion of patients who have information needs and to study the patient preference for participation in treatment decisions and the factors associated with them.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients with cancer older than 18 years. They were interviewed with a questionnaire after signing an informed consent. The association of sex, educational level, residence, diagnosis (type of cancer), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, and treatment status with information needs and decision-making preference was analyzed using χ2 testResultsApproximately 81% of patients said that they had an absolute need to know if the illness was cancer, and > 70% of patients either had an absolute need to know or would like to know about the prognosis, treatment options, and adverse effects. Regarding the decision-making preferences, 97% wanted their treating physicians to make the decision regarding their treatment, and 66% preferred to share decision making with their family.ConclusionThe majority of the patients with cancer expressed a need for knowing whether they had cancer. When it comes to treatment decisions, most of them preferred a passive role, and the majority wanted to involve their families in the decision-making process. We recommend that the treating physician should elicit the patient’s preference in participating in treatment decisions and their preference about involving their family in making treatment decisions

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

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Desire for Information and Preference for Participation in Treatment Decisions in Patients With Cancer Presenting to the Department of General Surgery in a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Sankar¹,

Dhanapal²,

Shankar³

et al. 2018

JGO

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The need for information about the diagnosis and treatment of cancer was expressed by 94% of the patients with cancer, and 92% wanted information about the prognosis, as revealed in a study by Laxmi and Khan. 17 However, awareness about the disease leads to increased psychiatric morbidity among patients with cancer in India. 18 Per the notification of the Medical Council of India on the Code of Medical Ethics Regulations, 2002, it is essential to disclose the diagnosis and prognosis to the patient.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Awareness and Perception About Cancer Among the Public in Chennai, India

Elangovan

Swaminathan

Basumalik

et al. 2017

JGO

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PurposeCancer-related stigma influences the way people perceive cancer, which renders cancer control—beginning with prevention and proceeding to palliation—a challenging task. This study aimed to assess the current levels of awareness and perceptions about cancer among people with various socioeconomic status and diverse backgrounds in the city of Chennai, India.Patients and MethodsThe sample population (N = 2,981; 18 to 88 years of age) was stratified into four groups: patients (n = 510), caregivers (n = 494) consulting at the Cancer Institute (Women Indian Association), college students (n = 978), and general public (n = 999). Fourteen statements related to cancer stigma or myths were identified and categorized by awareness (10 items) or perception (4 items). Responses to those statements were recorded by using a Likert scale (yes, no, and don’t know). The data were described by frequency analysis and χ2 test using SPSS Version 13 (SPSS, Chicago, IL).ResultsMore than 70% of the study participants were aware that cancer is curable, that cancer is not contagious, and that cancer is not a curse or a death sentence. However, only approximately half believed that surgery or biopsy do not cause cancer to spread to other organs or that radiation therapy does not consist of receiving an electric shock. Higher education, younger age, male sex, personal experience with cancer (either as a patient or caregiver), and high socioeconomic status were the categories of people with increased awareness about cancer.ConclusionThese factors need to be taken into consideration in tailoring information, education, and communication campaigns. Resource allocation for these campaigns is an investment in cancer control.

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“…For instance, prior research has indicated that patients with advanced cancer from LMICs preferred to know their prognosis at much higher rates—60% of patients in Pakistan, 29 92% of patients in Brazil, 30 79% of patients in China, 28 and 92% of patients in India. 31 Given these findings, it is important to determine and accommodate patient preferences regarding prognostic information individually, as South African patients may tend to prefer not knowing their prognosis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Illness Understanding and End-of-Life Care Communication and Preferences for Patients With Advanced Cancer in South Africa

Shen¹,

Prigerson

Ratshikana-Moloko

et al. 2018

JGO

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PurposeThe understanding of patients with cancer of their condition and their wishes regarding care as they approach end of life (EoL) have been studied more in high-income countries than in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).Patients and MethodsData were analyzed from a cohort study (N = 221) of patients with advanced cancer who were recruited from a palliative care center in Soweto, South Africa (LMIC), between May 2016 and June 2017. Patients were asked about their understanding of their illness, estimated life expectancy, EoL care communication, and EoL care preferences.ResultsOnly 13 patients (5.9%) acknowledged that they were terminally ill; nine patients (4.1%) estimated accurately that they had months, not years, left to live. A total of 216 patients (97.7%) reported that they had not had an EoL care discussion with their physician, and 170 patients (76.9%) did not want to know their prognosis even if the doctor knew it. Most patients preferred comfort care (72.9%; n = 161) to life-extending care (14.0%; n = 31), and did not want to be kept alive using extreme measures (80.5%; n = 178) or have their doctors do everything possible to extend their lives (78.3%; n = 173). Finally, 127 patients (57.5%) preferred to die at home, and 51 (23.1%) preferred to die in the hospital. Most patients (81.0%; n = 179) had funeral plans.ConclusionSouth African patients demonstrated less awareness of the fact that they were terminally ill, were less likely to have discussed their prognosis with their doctor, and more strongly preferred comfort care to life-extending EoL care than US and other LMIC patients in prior research. These differences highlight the need for culturally appropriate, patient-centered EoL care for South African patients with advanced cancer as well as to determine individual preferences and needs in all EoL settings.

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Does the cancer patient want to know? Results from a study in an Indian tertiary cancer center

Cited by 35 publications

References 42 publications

Desire for Information and Preference for Participation in Treatment Decisions in Patients With Cancer Presenting to the Department of General Surgery in a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Desire for Information and Preference for Participation in Treatment Decisions in Patients With Cancer Presenting to the Department of General Surgery in a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Awareness and Perception About Cancer Among the Public in Chennai, India

Illness Understanding and End-of-Life Care Communication and Preferences for Patients With Advanced Cancer in South Africa

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