Cancer patients, doctors and nurses vary in their willingness to undertake cancer chemotherapy.

ABSTRACT

Cancer patients' attitude to chemotherapy were compared with those of doctors, nurses and healthy controls. 98 cancer patients, 42 healthy subjects, 44 oncologists, 35 surgeons, 32 oncology nurses and 70 surgical nurses received a questionnaire presenting a hypothetical situation involving a toxic chemotherapy regimen. Each were asked to indicate the minimal benefit with respect to chance of cure, life prolongation and symptom relief they would demand to accept the treatment. The patients and the surgical nurses were most reluctant with regard to the treatment. The subgroup of patients under 50 years which matched the oncologists, surgeons and controls with respect to age, cohabitant status and children were significantly more willing to accept the regimen than the controls and professional groups. Patients under 40 years would accept the toxic treatment with hardly any benefit as chance of cure (7%, median), life prolongation (3 months) and symptom relief (8%). Among the professionals, oncologists were most willing to accept therapy, whereas surgical nurses and surgeons were least willing.