Disclosure of cancer information among Saudi cancer patients

Cancer has been perceived as an incurable disease, and therefore, disclosure of cancer could harm patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore Saudi cancer patients' views regarding disclosure of cancer information and the impact of gender, regions, and level of education on their desire to be disclosed of the diagnosis and prognosis.

A face-to-face interview was conducted during patient's evaluation at our hospital prior to their knowledge of being diagnosed with cancer.

Of 420 patients, 97.62% wanted to know all information about cancer and more than 96% wished to know the benefits and side effects of chemotherapy. None of the patients wanted to be treated without knowing their diagnosis, and almost all of them (94.76%) wanted to know about the prognosis. Patients from eastern region and male patients wanted to know their diagnosis more frequently than those from other regions and female patients (98.2% vs. 74.47%, P = 0.001; 97.90% vs. 92.17%, P = 0.008, respectively). Patients from Eastern Province, male patients, and educated patients wished to know their prognosis more frequently than those from other regions, female patients, and illiterate patients (94.98% vs. 68.79%, P = 0.001; 94.74% vs. 86.09%, P = 0.003; and 94.23% vs. 98.58%, P = 0.016, respectively).

This study indicates that almost all the Saudi cancer patients wanted to know about their cancer diagnosis, prognosis, benefits and side effects of chemotherapy. Regions, gender, and level of education may affect patient's desire for cancer information.