Preferences regarding disclosure of cancer diagnosis and prognosis for self and family members: a cross-sectional study

This study aimed to examine intentions to know one’s own cancer diagnosis and prognosis and intentions to allow family members to know the information. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults without a history of cancer diagnosis. Data were collected using a questionnaire capturing participant characteristics, intentions to know cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and intentions to allow loved ones to know cancer diagnosis and prognosis. The proportion reporting each intention was estimated. Factors related to not allow loved ones to know cancer diagnosis and prognosis were examined using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Of 607, most participants were female (80.2%), with a mean age of 43.1 ± 14.7 years. Intentions to know one’s own cancer-related information were consistently higher than intentions to allow loved ones to know the information: cancer diagnosis (79.9% vs. 70.5%), prognosis regarding cancer stage and chance of cure (80.7% vs. 72.0%), and end-of-life prognosis (77.1% vs. 67.1%). Participants who did not wish to know their own cancer prognosis had significantly higher odds of intending to not allow their loved ones to know cancer diagnosis and prognostic information. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating approaches to assess preferences for cancer-related information disclosure.