Strategies of information disclosure to Chinese cancer patients in an Asian community

Different attitudes of Chinese patients and their families toward truth telling of different stages of cancer

“…This finding is coincident with published article [4]. A previous study in Hong Kong observed that 75% of patients appeared 'calm' when they were informed with bad news by doctor [32]. Chinese oncology clinicians were also believed that doctor-in-charge was the appropriate person to inform the cancer diagnosis [1].…”

The communication goals and needs of cancer patients: a review

“…The communication framework (Feldman-Stewart et al, submitted) reveals a host of patient and provider external factors that influence commu-nication between these two parties, and that are suggestive of avenues for future research. With respect to patient external factors, communication studies with minorities are lacking, particularly studies addressing the needs and barriers to communication in special populations (Ramirez, 2003), including distinct cultural minorities (Elwyn et al, 1998(Elwyn et al, , 2002Fielding et al, 1998;Goldstein et al, 2002;Hamadeh and Adib, 1998;Harris et al, 2003;Huang et al, 1999;Ishikawa et al, 2002a, b;Qasem et al, 2002). In a recent American study, older patients and Latina patients were found to receive less information from physicians than their younger and non-Latina counterparts, despite reporting that they would find most types of information to be helpful (Maly et al, 2003).…”

Family centred decision making and non-disclosure of diagnosis in a South East Asian oncology practice

“…As a Western raised and trained oncologist practising in South East Asia, cultural diversity provides frequent challenges to decision-making models inherent in professional education (Ong et al, 2002;Blackhall et al, 1995). Non-disclosure of diagnosis (NDD) and non-discussion of prognosis are reported widely in theoretical scenario-based surveys of oncologists or potential patients (Tan et al, 1993;Chan and Goh 2000;Georgaki et al, 2002;Fielding et al, 1998), but minimal data exists as to its actual prevalence rate in the clinic. If requests for NDD by family are encountered without preparation, the consultation may end in conflict, alienation of patient or family or loss of confidence in the clinician (Lee and Wu, 2002;Freedman, 1993).…”