DISCLOSING THE CANCER-DIAGNOSIS - THE PATIENTS EXPERIENCES

497 Norwegian cancer patients (346 females, 151 males, mean age = 56 y ears (S.D. = 12)), admitted to a cancer rehabilitation centre, were su rveyed on how they were told their diagnosis. Predictors of general sa tisfaction with the information were assessed. 43% of the subjects wer e informed by phone, letter or in the corridor/on the round and estima ted that the information was presented in less than 5 minutes. Satisfa ction with the information was predicted by perceiving the physicians as personally interested (B = 0.528, P < 0.001), comprehending the inf ormation (B = 0.245, P < 0.001), being informed in the physicians' off ices (B = 0.338, P < 0.001), being informed by physicians at oncologic al departments (B = 0.278, P = 0.01) and increasing time spent on the disclosure (B = 0.140, P = 0.01). Other aspects of physician-patient c ommunication than the pure presentation of valid information is highly valued by the patients. However, a substantial proportion of physicia ns present the cancer diagnosis in such a manner that the possibility of engaging in conversation about the diagnosis and the effect upon th e patient is very limited. The findings call for remedial attention to the subject and improvement in performance. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.