Inconsistencies between belief and practice : assessment of Chinese cancer patients' knowledge of their disease

142 surgeons and radiotherapists who regularly care for patients with cancer were interviewed about their practices in disclosing information to cancer patients who were now recently deceased. The doctors were all Chinese, as were the patients, mostly male (93%) and mostly employed in government funded or -assisted hospitals (87%). Significant discrepancies were identified between what doctors believed their patient understood about their disease and what kinds of information the doctor themselves had discussed with their patient. Almost all doctors stated that they do 'on principle' inform patients of a diagnosis (92%) or prognosis (86%). This contrasts markedly with claimed rates of diagnostic (68%) and prognostic (47%) disclosure.