ISSN:
1569-8041
Keywords:
doctor–patient relations
;
informed consent
;
patient denial
;
patient understanding
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Aim: We aimed to document the prevalence of misunderstanding in cancer patients and investigate whether patient denial is related to misunderstanding. Patients and methods: Two hundred forty-four adult cancer outpatients receiving treatment completed a survey assessing levels of understanding and denial. Doctors provided the facts against which patient responses were compared. Multiple logistic regression analyses determined the predictors of misunderstanding. Results: Most patients understood the extent of their disease (71%, 95% CI: 65%–77%) and goal of treatment (60%, 95% CI: 54%–67%). Few correctly estimated the likelihood of treatment achieving cure (18%, 95% CI: 13%–23%), prolongation of life (13%, 95% CI: 8%–17%) and palliation (18%, 95% CI: 10%–27%). Patient denial predicted misunderstanding of the probability that treatment would cure disease when controlling for other patient and disease variables (OR = 2.20, 95% CI: 0.99–4.88, P = 0.05). Patient ratings of the clarity of information received were also predictive of patient understanding. Conclusions:Patient denial appears to produce misunderstanding, however, doctors' ability to communicate effectively is also implicated. The challenge that oncologists face is how to communicate information in a manner which is both responsive to patients' emotional status and sufficiently informative to allow informed decision-making to take place.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1008336415362
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