Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The relationship between personality traits of cancer patients and their preferences when receiving bad news

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Supportive Care in Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the personality traits of cancer patients and their preferences when receiving bad news.

Methods

In this descriptive correlational study, 200 cancer patients who were selected by the continuous sampling method participated. Patients self-reportedly completed the demographic and medical information questionnaire, the Measure of Patients’ Preference (MPP) scale, and the short form of the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI).

Results

The majority of participants were female (73%), 42.5% had higher education, and 47.5% suffered from breast cancer. In this study, the mean scores of extraversion and neuroticism in patients were 14.59 ± 2.47 and 15.17 ± 3.43, respectively. Regarding patients’ preferences for receiving bad news, the score obtained by them in the content category was greater compared to two categories of context and support. This study showed a significant and negative correlation between neuroticism and patients’ preferences in the support category (P < 0.001 and r =  − 0.265). Regarding the categories of the MPP, there was a significant relationship between gender (P = 0.018) and marital status (P = 0.049) with context category, education (P = 0.011) with content category, and marital status (P = 0.003) and employment (P = 0.009) with support category.

Conclusion

Personality traits and demographic characteristics of cancer patients can influence their preferences for receiving bad news. Therefore, the consideration of these traits by health care team members is of particular importance to communicate with and deliver bad news to patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data and material collected for this article are available at any time.

Code availability

SPSS software (v. 16.0).

References

  1. Buckman R (1984) Breaking bad news: why is it still so difficult? Br Med J 288(6430):1597–1599. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.288.6430.1597

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Borjalilu S, Karbakhsh M, Hosseini M, Sadighi S, Kaviani A (2018) Clinicians’ practice and perception of disclosure model for breaking bad news to breast cancer patients. Arch Breast Cancer 29:15–25. https://doi.org/10.19187/ABC.20185115-25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Gholami Baroughi S, Ravanipour M, Jahanpour F, Bayandari F (2018) Nursing students and conveying bad news to patients. Iran J Nurs 31(114):17–27. https://doi.org/10.29252/ijn.31.114.17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Von Blanckenburg P, Hofmann M, Rief W, Seifart U, Seifart C (2020) Assessing patients´ preferences for breaking bad news according to the SPIKES-Protocol: the MABBAN scale. Patient Educ Couns 103(8):1623–1629. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2020.02.036

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Fujimori M, Akechi T (2017) Uchitomi Factors associated with patient preferences for communication of bad news. Palliat Support Care 15(13):328–335. https://doi.org/10.1017/S147895151600078X

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Brebner J (2001) Personality and stress coping. Pers Individ Dif 31(3):317–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(00)00138-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Cousin G, Schmid Mast M, Roter DL, Hall JA (2012) Concordance between physician communication style and patient attitudes predicts patient satisfaction. Patient Educ Couns 87(2):193–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2011.08.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Zhou Y, Li D, Li X, Wang Y, Zhao L (2012) Big five personality and adolescent Internet addiction: the mediating role of coping style. Addict Behav 64:42–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.08.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Sánchez N, Sirgo A, León C, Hollenstein MF, Lacorte-Pi TM, López C, Salamero M (2009) Are the patient prefrences for communication related with personality variables? A multicentric study in a Spanish cancer sample. Psicooncología 6(1):43–52

    Google Scholar 

  10. Martins RG, Carvalho IP (2013) Breaking bad news: patients’ preferences and health locus of control. Patient Educ Couns 92(1):67–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2013.03.001

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Braman AC, Gomez RG (2004) Patient personality predicts preference for relationships with doctors. Pers Individ Dif 37(4):815–826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2003.10.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Abazari P, Taleghani F, Hematti S, Malekian A, Mokarian F, Hakimian SM, Ehsani M (2007) Breaking bad news protocol for cancer disclosure: an Iranian version. J Med Ethics Hist Med 10:13

    Google Scholar 

  13. Parker PA, Baile WF, De Moor C, Lenzi R, Kudelka AP, Cohen L (2001) Breaking bad news about cancer: patients’ preferences for communication. J Clin Oncol 19(7):2049–2056. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2001.19.7.2049

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Eysenck SBG, Eysenck HJ (1964) An improved short questionnaire for the measurement of extraversion and neuroticism. Life Sci 3(10):1103–1109. https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-3205(64)90125-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. BorjAlilu S, Karbakhsh M, Davoodzadeh K, Tak M, Amani N, Kaviani A (2019) Breast cancer patients’ preferences when receiving bad news: a qualitative study from a Middle Eastern country. Arch Breast Cancer 31:124–130. https://doi.org/10.32768/abc.201963124-130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Sutandyo N (2020) New hope in triple negative breast cancer treatment: role of immunotherapy. Int J Med Rev Case Reports 0:1. https://doi.org/10.5455/ijmrcr.triple-negative-breast-cancer-immunotherapy. Accessed May 2021

  17. Lashkarizadeh M, Jahanbakhsh F, Samareh Fekri M, PoorSeyyedi B, Aghaeei Afshar M, Shokoohi M (2012) Views of cancer patients on revealing diagnosis and information to them. ijme 5(4):65–74

    Google Scholar 

  18. Brown VA, Parker PA, Furber L, Thomas AL (2011) Patient preferences for the delivery of bad news - the experience of a UK Cancer Centre. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 20(1):56–61. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2354.2009.01156.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Eng TC, Yaakup H, Shah SA, Jaffar A, Omar K (2012) Preferences of Malaysian cancer patients in communication of bad news. Asian Pacific J Cancer Prev 13(6):2749–2752. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2012.13.6.2749

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ko E, Nelson-Becker H (2014) Shin M jung, Park Y joon Preferences and expectations for delivering bad news among Korean older adults. J Soc Serv Res 40(4):402–414. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2014.894356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Cartwright LA, Dumenci L, Siminoff LA, Matsuyama RK (2014) Cancer patients’ understanding of prognostic information. J Cancer Educ 29(2):311–317. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-013-0603-9

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Ilowite MF, Cronin AM, Kang TI, Mack JW (2017) Disparities in prognosis communication among parents of children with cancer: the impact of race and ethnicity. Cancer 123(20):3995–4003. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.30960

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Connor-Smith JK, Flachsbart C (2007) Relations between personality and coping: a meta-analysis. J Pers Soc Psychol 93(6):1080–1107. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.93.6.1080

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Sadoughi M, Hesampour F (2017) The relationship between anxiety, depression and perceived social support and quality of life among hemodialysis patients. J Clin Nurs Midwife 6(3):56–71

    Google Scholar 

  25. Bishop A. 2013 Patients’ preferences for shared decision making: associations with demographic variables, personality characteristics, and characteristics of the health condition, Dissertation, University of Canterbury. Psychology

  26. Langford DJ, Morgan S, Cooper B, Paul S, Kober K, Wright F, Hammer MJ, Conley YP, Levine JD, Miaskowski C, Dunn LB (2020) Association of personality profiles with coping and adjustment to cancer among patients undergoing chemotherapy. Psychooncology 29(6):1060–1067. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5377

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Mello S, Tan ASL, Armstrong K, Sanford Schwartz J, Hornik RC (2013) Anxiety and depression among cancer survivors: the role of engagement with sources of emotional support information. Health Commun 28(4):389–396. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2012.690329

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Lee GL, Teo I, Kanesvaran R (2018) The complexities of doctor–patient–family communication in an Asian oncology setting: concordance and discordance among patient preferences, family preferences, and perceived and actual communication. Health Commun 33(2):95–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2016.1239303

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Sarafis P, Tsounis A, Malliarou M, Lahana E (2014) Disclosing the truth: a dilemma between instilling hope and respecting patient autonomy in everyday clinical practice. Glob J Health Sci 6(2):128–137. https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v6n2p128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Janbabaei G, Hesamzadeh A, Esmaeili R (2014) A review of approaches for disclosing cancer diagnosis to the patients. J Clin Exc 3(1):12–28 ((Persian))

    Google Scholar 

  31. Herth K (2000) Enhancing hope in people with a first recurrence of cancer. J Adv Nurs 32(6):1431–1441. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.2000.01619.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Randall TC, Wearn AM (2000) Receiving bad news: patients with haematological cancer reflect upon their experience. Palliat Med 19(8):594–601. https://doi.org/10.1191/0269216305pm1080oa

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Kaye` SB, Kaye SB. 2004 Textbook of medical oncology. CRC Press, Boka Raton

  34. Fujimori M, Parker PA, Akechi T, Sakano Y, Baile WF, Uchitomi Y (2007) Japanese cancer patients’ communication style preferences when receiving bad news. Psychooncology 16(7):617–625. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1102

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Chiu LQ, Lee WSD, Gao F, Parker PA, Ng GY, Toh CK (2006) Cancer patients’ preferences for communication of unfavourable news: an Asian perspective. Support Care Cancer 14(8):818–824. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-005-0911-7

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Abazari P, Taleghani F, Hematti S, Ehsani M (2016) Exploring perceptions and preferences of patients, families, physicians, and nurses regarding cancer disclosure: a descriptive qualitative study. Support Care Cancer 24(11):4651–4659. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3308-x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Azzopardi J, Gauci D, Parker PA, Calleja N, Sloan JA, Zammit R (2017) Breaking bad news in cancer : an assessment of Maltese patients preferences. Malta Medical J 4(1):36–4

    Google Scholar 

  38. Simon A (2011) Patient involvement and information preferences on hospital quality: results of an empirical analysis. Unfallchirurg 114(1):73–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00113-010-1882-9

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The sincere cooperation of the staff of the oncology wards of the studied hospitals as well as the patients who kindly and patiently cooperated in conducting this research is appreciated.

Funding

The present study was supported by the Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute of Iran University of Medical Sciences (Ethics Code: IR.IUMS.REC.1398.697).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Maryam Ehsani

  2. Nursing Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mansoureh Ashghali Farahani, Fatemeh Negari & Fatemeh Marandi

  3. Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Hadi Ranjbar

  4. Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Behnam Shariati

Authors
  1. Maryam Ehsani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mansoureh Ashghali Farahani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fatemeh Negari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hadi Ranjbar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Behnam Shariati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Fatemeh Marandi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

FM, ME, FN, MF, BSH, and HR contributed to the study design.

FN and FM contributed to data collection.

ME, HR, FN, and FM contributed to data analysis and interpretation.

MF, ME, FN, and FM wrote the article.

All the authors read and approved the final version of the article.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fatemeh Marandi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics approval

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Iran University of Medical Sciences (Ethics Code: IR.IUMS.REC.1398.697).

Consent to participate

Written informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ehsani, M., Farahani, M.A., Negari, F. et al. The relationship between personality traits of cancer patients and their preferences when receiving bad news. Support Care Cancer 30, 2299–2306 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06630-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06630-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation