Awareness of diagnosis, and information-seeking behavior of hospitalized cancer patients in Greece

Purpose: The goal of our study was to evaluate the extent of disease-related knowledge and the need for further information of cancer patients in Greece. Materials and methods: We evaluated 203 mentally competent adult cancer patients hospitalized in general and oncological hospitals in the city of Athens and its suburbs. Data were collected by means of semistructured interviews. Patients were evaluated as to whether they had awareness of their diagnosis. Those who did so (n=83) were further questioned about additional disease-related information. Results: The majority of patients (59%) claimed to have no knowledge of their diagnosis. Women (p=0.004) as well as high school and university graduates (p=0.024) showed significantly superior levels of information when compared to men and graduates of elementary schools, respectively. Age was also a factor that influenced the level of the awareness of the diagnosis and the request for additional information: patients who were informed about the diagnosis and patients who asked for more information were significantly younger than their counterparts who ignored the diagnosis (p < 0.001) and those who didn't ask for further information, respectively (p=0.03). Hospital specialization (oncological versus general, p < 0.001) and department specialization (medical versus surgical, p=0.004) were associated with significantly increased levels of information. The patient's educational level was associated with increased request for additional information (p=0.006). Most patients with knowledge of their diagnosis requested detailed information about severity of their disease and prognosis. Only 13% of those in the informed group claimed they would have benefited psychologically by having been unaware of their diagnosis. Conclusions: Although Greek patients with diagnoses of malignancies want and need to be adequately informed, the amount of information they receive is inadequate. Over half of those patients evaluated were not aware of their diagnosis. Attitudes of health care professionals, preestablished family beliefs, "mind-set" difficulties, and organizational issues should not become barriers to the patients' right to be fully informed of their diagnoses and choices of potential therapies.