La información del diagnóstico a pacientes de cáncer

Abstract

This research analyzed the variables influencing the oncologist decision to communicate a specific o non-specific diagnosis to the cancer patients. Different variables are considered: sociodemographics, oncologist patient valuation, disease type, disease stage, symptoms related to the disease and proposed treatment. It is studied the diagnostic information on 100 cancer patients. The most predictive variables of information supplied were patient age and academic level, oncologist patient appearance and attitude valuation, previous information about his/her problem and the treatment that he/she will received. But variables as the cancer type, the disease stage or associated symptoms, they are no relevant to the decision to communicate a specific o non-specific diagnosis. Against the oncologist “intuition” it is considered the suitability for to base, in more precise information concerning the patient personal characteristics, the decision about the information type offered the cancer patient.