Oncologists' attitudes to treatment of cancer patients

This study, based on questionnaire responses of 46 Israeli oncologists, explores the factors influencing these physicians' beliefs and decisions regarding chemo- and radiation therapy. A simple discriminant analysis identified five physician-related variables with a significant impact on the subjects' attitudes to treatment: age, sex, years of oncology experience, pity for the patient, and whether they believed all cancer patients suffer from pain. In the absence of an unambiguous clinical protocol, the major influences on decisions to treat with chemo- or radiation therapy include, in addition to diagnosis, the patient's overall health, the physician's perception of treatment effectiveness, and the stage to which the illness has progressed. The discussion of the findings centers on their implications for practice.