Chinese Cancer Patients’ Perceptions of Disclosure Strategies: Relationships Between Cancer Diagnosis Disclosure and Trust in Doctors

• In Event: Cultural Issues in Cancer Communication

Abstract

Literature indicates that doctor-patient communication influences a cancer patient’s trust on his or her physician. The current study intended to investigate the relationships between different disclosure strategies and cancer patients’ trust in their doctors in China. A total number of 89 effective questionnaires were collected from the cancer patients in China. Results indicated that greater perceived gradual disclosure was associated with higher levels of trust in doctors, and that the perceived amount of information disclosed was positively correlated with the levels of trust. Results also indicated that perceived patient-centered strategies was positively correlated with levels of trust and that perceived emotional support conveyed by doctors was also positively associated with levels of trust. Perceived avoiding using euphemisms was negatively associated with levels of trust, but was no longer a significant predictor when other important variables such as perceived disclosure amount and perceived disclosure rate were included in the regression model.

Authors

• Weidan Cao, Temple University

• Xiaona Qi, Harbin Medical U Cancer Hospital

• Ting Yao, Jianghan U