Abstract

Information disclosure and decision making process are important steps in advanced cancer patients management; however, there is no research done in this area in Chile. Aims: To know the preferences of patients with advanced cancer related to information disclosure and style of decision making process. Methods: Prospective observational study with patients in the Palliative Care Unit of Sotero del Rio Hospital, in Santiago, Chile. The preferences were evaluated with a Disclosure Information and a Decision Making Preferences Questionnaire. Results: 100 patients were recruited, 52% males, average age 63 years; 90% wanted to receive complete information about diagnosis and 89% complete information about prognosis. The preferences related to decision making process style were: 60% shared, 27% passive and 13% active. The expressed satisfaction with the information received was 89% and 87% with the way decisions were actually made. Conclusions: A majority of patients preferred to receive complete information about diagnosis and prognosis and to make shared decisions. The satisfaction with information disclosure and decision making process was very high. The data of this study supports the need of an adequate information disclosure and of exploring the individual preferences of our patients, with the goal of promoting an informed decision making process that respects the preferences of our patients.