KUMJ | VOL. 5 | NO. 4 | ISSUE 20 | OCT-DEC, 2007

Patients’ attitude towards concept of right to know
Hari D, Mark Z, Bharati D, Khadka P

Abstract:
Objective: To ascertain patients’ attitude towards concept of right to know about Terminal cancer Materials and methods: Questionnaire was constructed that included demographic and clinical information distributed to 500 OPD patients and interviewed them at Patan Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. Results: 500 OPD patients completed questionnaire along with interview. 63.4% of patients wanted to know diagnosis, 41.2% wanted to know about prognosis and 13% wanted to make own end of life decision-making about the terminal cancer. Similarly, 89% of patients wanted to tell diagnosis to their family members and 83% wanted to tell prognosis. The view for disclosure rate is different when one is as patient and as family member (63.4% versus 34.4%). Elderly people are more likely to know the prognosis and educated and Brahmin people are more likely to make their own end of life decision-making. Conclusion: Findings of the study indicated that most patients want to be informed about their terminal illness. Physicians should realize that patients and family units might differ in their attitude therefore; truth telling should depend on what the patients want to know and are prepared to know.
Keyword : attitude, patient, right to know (autonomy), terminal illness