Preferences for disclosure of disease related information among thoracic cancer patients

Cancer patients in developed countries increasingly express a preference for more detailed information and involvement in decisions about their care. However, data is sparse and conflicting on preferences of ethnic minorities and immigrants. We aimed to identify preferences for illness related information and correlates with clinical characteristics among patients with thoracic cancers.

Two hundred and fifty two consecutive cancer patients seen at the Thoracic Oncology Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Israel, participated in the study. Prior to their first oncologist visit, patients completed a questionnaire eliciting their preferences for disclosure of illness related information - full, partial or none - as well as additional demographic information.

Eighty four percent of subjects requested full disclosure of disease related information including bad news. Patient age, gender, marital status, birth country, immigration status and smoking status were not associated with disclosure preferences. Patients who refused complete-disclosure were more likely to have metastatic disease with a 2.72 odds ratio (95% confidence interval 1.29-5.74).

Most Israeli thoracic cancer patients request full disclosure of illness related information. This preference seems more significantly correlated to disease stage than demographic characteristics.