Understanding Patients' And Family Caregivers' Preferences And Attitudes Towards Disclosure Of Cancer Related Diagnosis And Prognosis.

e22130 Background: Understanding patients’ and caregivers’ preferences and attitudes about knowing the cancer diagnosis and prognosis (D&P) prevents demoralization of the patients. The Western medical practice differs from the orient, and there is little data available from India. The aim of this study was to explore preferences and attitudes of the Indian patients and family caregivers about disclosure of cancer related D&P. Methods: Cross sectional survey using a validated interviewer administered questionnaire. Newly diagnosed adult cancer patients and their family caregivers attending the oncology outpatients, having a ECOG score of 0-3 purposively recruited. Patients/family caregivers who were already counseled about the D&P or receiving active cancer treatment were excluded. The survey questionnaire had close-ended questions eliciting preferences and open-ended questions exploring attitudes. Results: 250 cancer patients and 250 family caregivers completed the survey. Patients preferred full disclosure of their D&P whereas the family caregivers preferred non-disclosure of D&P to their patients. Items related to name/ seriousness of illness (87.2% v 26.8%), treatment outcomes (90.4% v 45.6%), future course of illness (87.2% v 30.0%), future symptoms/ complications (88.8% v 36.4%) and the expected length of survival (72.8% v 8.8%) (p < .001 for all) showed significant difference. Patients felt that knowing their D&P will help them to plan for future/future treatment, be prepared, take precautions and plan for the family. Family caregivers felt that patients knowing their D&P will cause stress depression, loss of confidence and impacts future treatment. Conclusions: The study of preferences showed that patients preferred full disclosure (FD) of their D&P whereas the family caregivers preferred non-disclosure(ND) to their patients. The study of attitudes showed that patients and the family caregivers had a different outlook towards health care providers communicating D&P.