Diagnosis Disclosure Preferences of Cancer Patients in Egypt: A Multi-Institutional Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Although diagnosis disclosure to cancer patients has important roles in cancer care, it is not a routine practice in countries like Egypt. Respecting patients' autonomy and responding to their preferences are among the factors that should guide the practice of cancer diagnosis disclosure. Objectives: To assess the preferences of Egyptian cancer patients regarding the disclosure of cancer diagnosis and to determine factors that may affect their preferences. Methods: The study included 295 patients aware of their cancer diagnosis from 3 cancer care facilities in Egypt. Patients were asked if they would have preferred to be informed of the diagnosis or not, whom they would have preferred to receive the diagnosis information from, and if they would have preferred to tell their families or not. Results: The vast majority (91%) of the included patients preferred to be informed about their diagnosis, 59% preferred to disclose the diagnosis to their families and 66% preferred to receive the diagnosis information from a physician. In univariate analysis, male gender, higher education level and employment were significantly associated with the preference for disclosure. None of the studied variables associated significantly with the preferences in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The majority of Egyptian cancer patients in our study preferred to be informed about their diagnosis, which should be respected. The results may help in changing the diagnosis disclosure practice of health care professionals and refuting the misconception of family caregivers about cancer diagnosis disclosure in Egypt and countries with similar culture.