Changes in Responses to Questionnaires Concerning Informing Lung Cancer Patients of Their Diseases Between 1996 and 2001

Abstract

Purpose. We evaluated chronological changes in desire to be told the truth by lung cancer patient. Method. We compared results of a questionnaire for lung cancer patients in our institution, in 1996 and in 2001. We obtained 176 responses in 1996 (response rate 71.3%) and 246 in 2001 (respons rate 89.5%). Result. The percentage of patients who wanted to receive a detailed explanation about their disease increased significantly to 69.5% in 2001 from 46.0% in 1996. The percentage of patients who wanted to be told the truth about their disease increased significantly to 91.1% in 2001 from 65.9% in 1996. Even the patients who were elderly or were in advanced stages of the disease wanted to be told the truth.Conclusions. Lung cancer patients who wanted to know the truth clearly increased in this five-year period.