Telling the diagnosis to cancer patients in Japan: attitude and perceptionof patients, physicians and nurses

The aim of this study was to clarify patients', physicians', and nurses per ceptions with regard to the communication of diagnosis to cancer patients i n japan. Sixty-three cancer patients, 35 physicians and 21 nurses were enro lled for this study: 54 of the patients wished to be informed of the diagno sis, of whom 34 had actually been told that they had cancer. Physicians did not tell the truth to the remaining 20 patients, of whom seven were not to ld the diagnosis because family members objected. Twenty-one of the 35 phys icians thought that telling the true diagnosis had a positive effect and 27 thought that disclosure of the diagnosis to cancer patients should be prom oted. Sixteen of the 21 nurses did not experience any difficulties with pat ient care after the diagnosis was disclosed. The present study suggests tha t medical staff and family members should respect the patient's standpoint because patients have the right to know about their own condition. Physicia ns should first provide the details of the disease to their patients. There after, family members should be informed, but only with the patient's conse nt.