[Attitudes to treatment with cytostatic agents. Do cancer patients, physicians, nurses and healthy individuals vary in their views?].

Cancer patients' attitudes to chemotherapy were compared with those of doctors, nurses, and healthy controls. 98 cancer patients, 42 healthy subjects, 44 oncologists, 35 surgeons, 32 oncology nurses, and 70 surgical nurses received a questionnaire presenting a hypothetical situation involving a toxic chemotherapy regimen. Each of them was asked to indicate the minimal benefit with respect to chance of cure, prolongation of life and relief of symptoms they would demand in order to accept the treatment. The patients and surgical nurses were the most reluctant towards the treatment. The subgroup of patients under 50 years which matched the oncologists, surgeons, and controls with respect to age, cohabitant status, and children were significantly more willing to accept the regimen than the control persons and professional groups were. Patients under 40 years would accept the toxic treatment even with hardly any benefit in terms of chance of cure (7%, median), prolongation of life (three months), and relief of symptoms (8%). Among the professionals, oncologists were most willing to accept the therapy, whereas surgical nurses and surgeons were the least willing.