The Experiences of Medical and Dental Personnel Regarding Informing their Patients about the Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancer

One of the main challenges regarding the patients with cancer, is to inform them about their disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate outlooks and experiences of medical and dental staff experts in Kerman, Iran, regarding the method of informing the diagnosis of head and neck (HN) cancer to patients and their relatives. In this qualitative study, the data were obtained through deep interviews, and focus group discussions. The target groups were faculty members of the departments of oral medicine, oral and maxillo-facial surgery, and oncology, nurses of the departments of oral diseases and oncology, and postgraduate students of the department of oral medicine in Kerman university of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran (25 individuals). Aim-based sampling was carried out and continued till the saturation of data. The data were analyzed using content analysis method. Two major classifications were derived. “Truth-telling improving factors” of them, “giving the patients an opportunity for decision making for treatment plan” was the most important factor; and “truth-telling avoiding factors” of them, "close relatives insist to avoid telling the truth to the patients” was the most important factor. In spite of the fact that most of the interviewees believed in telling the truth to the patients, practitioners should consider several factors such as patient's family preference, as well as patients’ anxiety and physical and psychological conditions. It would be reasonable if health care workers train to deal with the patients having cancer.