Table 2 Relatives' attitudes towards their patients' quality of life
From: The families evaluation on management, care and disclosure for terminal stage cancer patients
Questionnaire items | Percentage (%) of Relatives' | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Responding 'yes' | n | 'sometimes' | n | 'no' | n | |
1) Do you believe that patient should fully be informed | ||||||
a) for the diagnosis? | 23% | 34 | 56% | 82 | 20.5% | 30 |
b) for the prognosis of the disease? | 23% | 34 | 51% | 74 | 26% | 38 |
2) Do you agree the patient to be informed | ||||||
a) for the possible treatment choices? | 71% | 104 | 24% | 35 | 5% | 7 |
b) for the percentage effectiveness? | 51% | 74 | 37% | 54 | 12% | 18 |
c) for the complications or the side-effects of the treatment? | 53% | 77 | 33% | 48 | 15% | 21 |
4) Do you believe that patient should be informed before amputative/disfiguring operations? | 68.5% | 100 | 21% | 31 | 10% | 15 |
5) Would you like for the caring and treatment of cancer patients to be involved | ||||||
a) the health care team? | 81.5% | 119 | 16% | 24 | 2.% | 3 |
b) physicians from various specialties Cooperating as necessary? | 76% | 111 | 12% | 17 | 12% | 18 |
6) Would you like to cooperate with psychological support specialists? | 44% | 64 | 34% | 50 | 22% | 32 |
7) Would you like to cooperate with a social worker? | 78% | 114 | 19% | 28 | 3% | 4 |
8) In the final stage of the patient would you prefer to inform him/her for the palliative nature of the treatment? | 67% | 98 | 24% | 35 | 9% | 13 |
9) Would you like to discuss with the patient his/her fears on death? | 44% | 64 | 28% | 41 | 28% | 41 |
10) In order to prolong the life of cancer patient for a few days in the final stage, would you choose the intensive care unit? | 30% | 44 | 1 30% | 44 | 39% | 58 |
11) Do you believe that the advanced cancer patient when he/she receives the appropriate care should: | ||||||
a) be hospitalized | 32% | 47 | 30% | 44 | 38% | 55 |
b) remain at home | 57% | 83 | 23% | 34 | 20% | 29 |
12) According to your opinion, the dying patient should: | ||||||
a) remain at hospital? | 34% | 50 | 34% | 50 | 31.5* | 46 |
b) die at home? | 41% | 60 | 29% | 42 | 30% | 44 |
13) In order to prolong the life of cancer patient for a few days in the final stage, is communication and support from the relatives and friends important? | 96% | 140 | 4% | 6 | 0 | 0 |