• Ali Motlagh, Neda Yaraei, Ahmad R Mafi, Farnaz Hosseini Kamal, Mehdi Yaseri, Simin Hemati, Hojatollah Shahbazian, Abdol-Azim Sedighi, Reza Khodabakhshi, Ali Taghizadeh, Jamshid Ansari, Farshad Seyednejad, Reza Khanduzi, Khosro Mojir Sheibani, Payam Azadeh, Mohamad Hasan Emranpour, Ahmad Mosalei, Soheil Vojdani, Ali Mohamad Nazari, Leila Nazarimenesh, Abdolah Fazl-Alizadeh, and Mohamad Esmaeil Akbari.
• 1)Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2)Radiation Oncology Department, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.18)National Program Director, Center for NON-COMMUNICABLE Disease, Deputy of Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran. agmotlagh@yahoo.com.
• Arch Iran Med. 2014 Apr 1; 17 (4): 232-40.

ObjectivesThere is still contradictory evidence on disclosure preferences regarding cancer diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preference of cancer patients for knowing the truth about their disease, as well as the factors that might have an impact on these preferences.MethodThis study was conducted in 11 cancer centers in Iran. A questionnaire was used to collect data, and all patients above 15 years of age who were willing to participate were included in the study. The patients were asked if they were aware of the malignant nature of their disease, and if they came to know about their disease at the time of initial diagnosis, or later. The patients were then asked about the way they looked upon their disease. In the final part of the questionnaire, the participants were asked the level of involvement they prefer to have in making treatment decisions.ResultsIn total, 1226 patients were enrolled in this study, only 565 (46.7%) of whom were aware of their disease at the time of diagnosis, and 878 (72.7%) at the time of interview, while 980 (85.2%) were willing to receive information about their disease. Patients' awareness was significantly associated with age under 50 years, female gender, having breast, skin or head and neck cancer, and having medical care in Shiraz or Hamadan while it was not associated with the stage or accompanying illness.ConclusionWhile the majority of Iranian cancer patients prefer to be aware of the nature of their disease and have an active role in treatment decision making, they do not receive this information.

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