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An exploratory study on the Italian patients’ preferences regarding how they would like to be told about their cancer

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Abstract

Goal

Major cross-cultural differences in truth-telling attitudes and practices have been demonstrated. Until recently, in Italy the doctor could conceal both diagnosis and prognosis to seriously ill patients out of beneficence. Signs of change have been reported, but the extent and way patients would be informed is still unknown. The aim of the study was to assess Italian patients’ preferences regarding how they would like to be told about their cancer and its treatment. We examined the factor structure of the Measure of Patients’ Preferences—Italian version (MPP-It) and whether demographical and medical variables were associated with the dimensions of patients’ preferences.

Materials and methods

Patients were invited to participate during a visit to the oncology department of the Lecco hospital (Italy) for chemotherapy or follow-up. An Italian version of the MPP-It was administered. Data were analyzed through a factor analysis.

Main results

A total of 210 cancer patients agreed to participate. Three main factors were identified: (1) Information (Talking About the Disease). Items in this factor were concerned with the dialogue about the disease and treatment options; (2) Support (The Emotional World of the Patient). These items referred to the supportive and relational aspects of the physician–patient encounter; (3) Care (The Ideal Doctor). These items related to the patients’ desires about the doctor’s personal attributes.

Conclusions

The first two factors, information and support, were comparable to those of similar American and Asian studies. The study suggests a cross-cultural uniformity among cancer patients who appreciate the informative and clearness of the communication aspects as being primarily important, while also giving high points to relationship aspects. The third factor appears unique to the Italian context.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the medical and nursing staff of the Department of Oncology of the Hospital in Lecco, Italy, and in particular the head physician, Dr. G. Ucci. We thank Drs. Francesca Pistarini and Alessandro Gabetta for their input and hard work on this project. We thank Dr. Cristina Nova for her participation on the research. We also thank scientific editors Kathryn Carnes and Sue Moreau from The Office of Scientific Publications at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for their help with this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Milan, San Paolo Hospital, Via Di Rudinì 8, 20142, Milan, Italy

    Emanuela Mauri, Elena Vegni & Egidio A. Moja

  2. Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Largo A. Gemelli 1, 20123, Milan, Italy

    Edoardo Lozza

  3. Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Patricia A. Parker

Authors
  1. Emanuela Mauri
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  2. Elena Vegni
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  3. Edoardo Lozza
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  4. Patricia A. Parker
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  5. Egidio A. Moja
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Correspondence to Emanuela Mauri.

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Mauri, E., Vegni, E., Lozza, E. et al. An exploratory study on the Italian patients’ preferences regarding how they would like to be told about their cancer. Support Care Cancer 17, 1523–1530 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0621-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0621-7

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