The perceptions of physicians in southeast Nigeria on truth-telling for cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

BACKGROUND

The perceptions of Nigerian physicians on truth-telling for cancer diagnosis and prognosis have not been widely studied. There is a need to know the perception of the doctors on truth telling so as to inform appropriate professional education on the subject.

OBJECTIVES

To ascertain the perceptions of the physicians on truth-telling for cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was done with a self-administered questionnaire to 228 physicians available in the clinics and seminars at the hospital between January and April 2010.

RESULTS

A total of 173 questionnaires were returned. Eighty-one (46.8%) always, 54 (31.2%) generally, and 38 (22%) rarely disclose cancer diagnosis and favorable prognosis to patients. Only 7.5% would disclose the truth of the prognosis to patients when the cancer is advanced. Physicians' age, specialty, training in palliative care, and doctors' views on truth disclosure if he/she had cancer significantly influenced the doctors' practice of truth-telling for cancer diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

The physicians who treat cancer patients in southeast Nigeria tend to practice truth-telling for cancer diagnosis but not for a poor prognosis. Most of the physicians need training in physician-patient communication.