Disclosure of Cancer Information in Iran: a Perspective of Patients, Family Members, and Health Professionals

Background: In the last decades cancer has become one of the important causes of death in Iran. This study examined perspective of a group of Iranian health professionals, patients and patients' family members regarding their view on disclosure of cancer information at a university hospital in Tehran, Iran. Methods: The method of study was qualitative semi-structured focused group content analysis. Two group leaders (psychologist and psychiatrist) run the focus groups. Oncologists, nurses, patients and family members participated in separate focus groups. Five group sessions were held to sum up the participants views in four major topics related to disclosure of cancer information to patients and families. Results: Most of physicians and nurses believed that disclosure of cancer diagnosis is a mistake. Family members think that it should be delivered gradually during stages of therapy based on patient's psychological state, but most of the patients consider truth telling as a patient right. All physicians, most of nurses and all the patients see the physician as a person responsible to break the diagnostic disclosure. All patients wanted the physicians to take the total control of decision-making process for their treatment. Conclusion: Iranian physicians and nurses hesitate to disclose cancer diagnosis compared to patients, who want to know the truth. Patients, nurses and physicians consider the physician to be the person responsible for delivering the information of cancer diagnosis. Development and implementation of a protocol based on Iranian culture is a necessity.