Attitudes of cancer specialists toward their patients in Greece

A three-part questionnaire was mailed to Greek cancer specialists practicing in the two largest cities of Greece. Part I addressed the question of telling the truth to the cancer patient, Part II the question of telling the truth to the terminal cancer patient, and Part III investigated the psychological difficulties of the above specialists in the care of their patients. Most of the Greek cancer specialists (73%) chose not to tell the diagnosis to the cancer patient and an even greater majority (95%) prefer not to inform the terminal cancer patient of his impending death. A considerable number of them, though (41%), favor a change towards telling the cancer patient his true diagnosis. Furthermore, two thirds of them admit to psychological problems in their contact with the cancer patient and subscribe to the need for specific psychiatric training to improve the care of their patients.