Information and decision-making preferences of hospitalized adult cancer patients

https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(88)90343-7Get rights and content

Abstract

Physician behaviors and patient responses were studied in 439 interactions between hospitalized adult cancer patients and oncologists to investigate patient preferences for a participatory role in the interaction. Patients were asked their preference for information to be given (minimal; only if it is good news; or all information, good or bad) and their preference for participation in decision-making (prefer doctor makes therapeutic decisions or prefer to participate in decisions). The majority (92%) preferred all information be given, but only 69% preferred to participate in therapeutic decisions. Of those wanting all the information, 24.9% preferred the physician to make the therapeutic decisions. This group was comprised primarily of older, sicker males. Those who did not want to participate were also slightly more satisfied (P < 0.05). These data suggest that, although most patients prefer all information to be given to them, almost one-fourth of them preferred a more authoritarian, rather than participatory, relationship with their oncologist.

References (20)

  • J.J. Mathews

    The communication process in clinical settings

    Soc. Sci. Med.

    (1983)
  • C.G. Zubrod et al.

    Appraisal of methods for the study of chemotherapy of cancer in man: comparative therapeutical trial of nitrogen mustard and triethylene thiophosphoramide

    J. Chron. Dis.

    (1960)
  • D.H. Novack et al.

    Change in physician's attitudes toward telling the cancer patient

    J. Am. med. Ass.

    (1979)
  • B. Henriques et al.

    Patient information about cancer

    Acta chir. scand.

    (1980)
  • H. Waitzkin et al.

    The communication of information about illness

    Adv. Psychosom. Med.

    (1972)
  • L.D. Eghert et al.

    Reduction of post-operative pain encouragement and instruction of patients

    New Engl. J. Med.

    (1964)
  • W. Stiles et al.

    Dimensions of patient and physician roles in medical interviewing

    Soc. Sci. Med.

    (1979)
  • S.M. Levy et al.

    Patient-centric technologies: a clinical-cultural perspective

  • S. Greenfield et al.

    Expanding patient involvement in care

    Ann. intern. Med.

    (1985)
  • D. Roter

    Patient participation in the patient provider interaction: the effects of patient question asking on the quality of interaction, satisfaction, and compliance

    Hlth Educ. Mon.

    (1977)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (418)

  • Patient perceptions concerning clinical trials in oncology patients

    2016, Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications
View all citing articles on Scopus

Portions of these results were presented at the American Association for Cancer Education meeting, November, 1986; Conference on Communicating with Cancer Patients, St. Petersburg, Florida, February, 1987; and National Association of Oncology Social Workers meeting, May, 1987.

View full text