Breaking bad news in cancer care: preferences of patients, family caregivers and general public in Ethiopia

• This study explores the preferences of cancer patients, family caregivers, and the general public regarding breaking bad news in an Ethiopian oncology setting. The research was conducted at Tikur Anbessa (Black Lion) Specialized Hospital. The sample consists of patients with a confirmed cancer diagnosis, their family caregivers, and representatives from the general public with 150 subjects per cohort. A comparative cross-sectional study design and a multivariable analysis were used. The patients would like to be informed, which contradicts the perceptions of family caregivers. This creates an ethical dilemma for staff in terms of how much they involve their patients in clinical decision-making. The patients also indicate that information not to be withheld from them. In contrast, the general public prefers information about poor life expectancy to be communicated to family only, which may reflect widespread public perception of cancer as a deadly disease. The findings indicate the complexity of communication concerning breaking bad news in oncology care in Ethiopia. It requires oncologists to probe patient attitudes before information disclosure in order to find a balance between involving patients in communication at the same time as keeping a constructive alliance with family caregivers.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Medicinsk etik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Medical Ethics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap -- Kommunikationsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Media and Communications -- Communication Studies (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Radiologi och bildbehandling (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging (hsv//eng)

Keyword

communication

oncology

Ethiopia

decision making

breaking bad news

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

kon (subject category)