Level of Knowledge and Awareness of Newly Diagnosed Cancer Patients About Cancer Diagnosis

Objective: Cancer is a global health problem that threatens human lives worldwide.The awareness of cancer diagnosis varies over time.The level of knowledge and awareness of a cancer patient regarding his/her disease is one of the most important factors affecting the quality of life and psychology of the patient.This approach contributes to patient participation in treatment and decision-making.There have been very few studies on this subject in our country.Therefore, we aimed to measure the level of knowledge and awareness of newly diagnosed cancer patients admitted to our oncology unit.Methods: BetweenJanuary 1, 2018 and March 31, 2018, 159 newly diagnosed cancer patients admitted to the medical oncology outpatient clinic were included in the study.To evaluate the level of knowledge (sufficient or insufficient) and awareness of the patientsand their relatives regarding their diseases, a questionnaire consisting of 21 questions was administered to them.Results: Most patients (n=140, 88%) stated that they were informed about cancer diagnosis before being admitted to the oncology clinic.Eight patients (5%) reported that they did not receive any information.The relatives of 11 patients (7%) preferred not to reveal their cancer diagnosis.Relatives of elderly patients tended to conceal their diagnosis (p=0.023).Other demographic information and disease-related factors (organ, stage, etc.) did not influence awareness of the diagnosis.Although many patients with cancer and relatives were aware of their diagnosis, 25% of them defined their level of knowledge as insufficient.Older age, low income, diagnosis in non-surgical clinics, limited explanation time, and lack of clear language were associated with an insufficient level of knowledge.The most important expectations of patients from physicians were the prognosis of the disease, clear and understandable information about cancer, treatment options, and the side effect profile of the treatments. Conclusion:The study revealed a high attitude toward providing information to patients with cancer at our hospital.The attitudes of patients' relatives should be improved to ensure that patients are better informed.Patient-physician communication is crucial for providing satisfactory patient information.Sufficient time should be allocated for explanations, and patients should be spoken to in a language they can understand.When providing explanations, patients' expectations should be considered.