Prognosis Awareness in Oncological Patients at the End of Life - Abstract
Objectives: To assess the illness awareness in terminal cancer patients at home and to compare the perception of caregivers and home care staff about the level of awareness of the patients.
Methods: At baseline of patients and caregivers have been subjected by a doctor and a nurse to a semi-structured interview directed to evaluate the awareness about dying in 4 levels.
Results: The study demonstrated that only 10% of the sample showed complete awareness, 41% had an imprecise awareness, 37% had an unrealistic awareness and 12% had no awareness.
The data did not show a significant concordance between care givers perception and home care staff about the patient awareness.
Conclusion: In accordance with the literature this study has shown how a large majority of terminal cancer patients had not adequate information about diagnosis and prognosis and showed insufficient illness awareness.