Experiences and Attitudes of Patients With Terminal Cancer and Their Family Caregivers Toward the Disclosure of Terminal Illness
- Author(s)
- Young Ho Yun; Yong Chol Kwon; Myung Kyung Lee; Woo Jin Lee; Kyung Hae Jung; Young Rok Do; Samyong Kim; Dae Seog Heo; Jong Soo Choi; Sang Yoon Park
- Keimyung Author(s)
- Do, Young Rok
- Department
- Dept. of Internal Medicine (내과학)
- Journal Title
- Journal of Clinical Oncology
- Issued Date
- 2010
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 11
- Abstract
- Purpose:
We investigated the experiences of cancer patients and their family caregivers who became aware
that the cancer was terminal, how they became aware, and how they felt about disclosure of
the information.
Patients and Methods:
In this cohort study, we administered questionnaires to 619 consecutive patients determined by
physicians to be terminally ill and to their family caregivers.
Results:
A total of 481 patients and 381 family caregivers completed the questionnaire. A majority of patients
(58.0%) and caregivers (83.4%) were aware of the patient’s terminal status. Approximately 28% of
patients and 23% of caregivers reported that they guessed it from the patient’s worsening condition.
The patient group was more likely than the caregiver group (78.6% v 69.6%) to prefer that patients be
informed of their terminal status. Patients informed of their terminal diagnosis had a significantly better
quality of life and fewer symptoms and had a lower rate of emotional distress than patients who
guessed it from their worsening condition. Younger patients and patients who paid the treatment costs
themselves were significantly more likely to want to be told when their illness was terminal. If the
patient paid the treatment cost and was employed at the time of the cancer diagnosis, the family
caregivers were more likely to prefer disclosure of terminal illness.
Conclusion:
Most patients with terminal cancer and their family caregivers preferred disclosure, and patients who knew
of their terminal diagnosis had a lower rate of emotional distress and a higher health-related quality of life.
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