The taboo of cancer: the experiences of cancer disclosure by Iranian patients, their family members and physicians

Zamanzadeh, Vahid; Rahmani, Azad; Valizadeh, Leila; Ferguson, Caleb; Hassankhani, Hadi; Nikanfar, Alireza; Howard, A. Fuchsia

doi:10.1002/pon.2103

Cited by 39 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…It is also possible that the women in the present study had insufficient or inaccurate information about their diagnosis and prognosis. Previous researchers found that many Iranian cancer patients do not have valid information about their prognosis and they often do not fully understand the gravity of their situation (Zamanzadeh et al, 2013). Future research is needed to illuminate the psychological challenges experienced by Iranian breast cancer patients, their use of effective coping strategies, and acceptable means of providing support.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Un-met Supportive Care Needs of Iranian Breast Cancer Patients

Abdollahzadeh

Moradi²,

Pakpour³

et al. 2014

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention

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Background: Assessment of supportive needs is the requirement to plan any supportive care program for cancer patients. There is no evidence about supportive care needs of Iranian breast cancer patients. So, the aims of present study were to investigate this question and s predictive factors. Materials and Methods: A descriptivecorrelational study was conducted, followed by logistic regression analyses. The Supportive Care Needs Survey was completed by 136 breast cancer patients residing in Iran following their initial treatment. This assessed needs in five domains: psychological, health system and information, physical and daily living, patient care and support, and sexuality. Results: Patient perceived needs were highest in the health systems and information (71%), and physical and daily living (68%) domains. Logistic regression modeling revealed that younger participants have more un-met needs in all domains and those with more children reported fewer un-met needs in patient care and support domains. In addition, married women had more un-met supportive care needs related to sexuality. Conclusions: The high rate of un-met supportive care needs in all domains suggests that supportive care services are desperately required for breast cancer patients in Iran. Moreover, services that address informational needs and physical and daily living needs ought to be the priority, with particular attention paid to younger women. Further research is clearly needed to fully understand supportive care needs in this cultural context.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Un-met Supportive Care Needs of Iranian Breast Cancer Patients

Abdollahzadeh

Moradi²,

Pakpour³

et al. 2014

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention

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“…Consequently, cancer patients and families often conceal cancer diagnoses [3] . People in non-Western countries are more likely to consider cancer a taboo subject, and people in those countries seldom discuss cancer publicly [3,17] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Communication across cancer boundaries

Yagasaki

Komatsu

2013

JNEP

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Background: Cancer patients can be socially isolated and lonely. The general public still has negative attitudes toward cancer and cancer patients. It is important for cancer patients to have a supportive environment and to connect with other people. Methods:We conducted a qualitative study with two focus group interviews of eight persons using a grounded theory approach to understand ordinary people's perceptions of cancer and cancer patients, and to explore their experience of interacting with the patients.Results: This study revealed "Communication across cancer boundaries" as a core category with six themes: "negative assumptions," "social stigma," "communication boundaries," "transforming perceptions of cancer patients through interactions," "building communication competence," and "awakening empathy." The ordinary people still had negative assumptions about cancer and cancer patients, leading to social stigma and creating communication boundaries. The experience of interaction with a cancer patient, however, altered their views on cancer patients, and reminded them of the need for communication competence to create a relationship with empathy. Conclusions:The results of this study provided unique insights into ordinary people's views on cancer and cancer patients. Health care providers should understand how ordinary people perceive cancer patients, and provide education and they should provide information to both cancer patients and the general public. A society's greater understanding of cancer and cancer patients enables the society to provide an empathetic community where cancer is no longer seen as a taboo and stigmatized.

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“…16 In Western societies, "individual possession principle" has confirmed telling the truth to the patient, but in Eastern societies "lack of harm principle" has a higher priority than the individual possession. Given the centrality of the family in these communities, truth is concealed.…”

Section: Telling the Truthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…19 This has caused that most of the people even doctors rarely use the word of "cancer" in their speaking and they mostly use "illness" as an alternative. 16 For this reason, the truth of disease is concealed in Iran and doctors say the disease diagnose to a family member. 19 Although, studies have shown that, in most cases, this is done at the request of the family 20 because they believe that revealing the truth to the patient would lose hope and create additional distress.…”

Section: Telling the Truthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultural Aspects of Palliative Cancer Care in Iran

Fallahi¹,

Rassouli²,

Mojen³

2017

Palliat Med Hosp Care Open J

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Citation ABSTRACTPalliative care is a human need, which is essential for patients with chronic disorders such as cancer, and aims to prevent and relieve pain and improve the quality of life (QoL) of patients and their families. Since culture is an important factor in predicting health behavior, it can be effective in providing these services. Thus, this review study has been conducted to assess the cultural aspects of palliative care in Iran. The findings were classified and provided based on the definition of palliative care on three major topics including early diagnosis, during treatment and disease period, and finally death and later. In the beginning of diagnosis, the most important element of palliative care is informing the disease to the patient and family. Disclosure of the disease in Iran is not culturally possible. The most important cultural barrier is cancer stigma in Iran, which affects the related measures such as screening diagnosis. The most important challenge in the treatment is pain management, which overshadowed factors such as cultural beliefs. Despite the challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of patients, which make the care difficult, the religious and spiritual context of Iranian people in the death and bereavement, as well as the strong family connections, are considered as a strong point that is helpful in the process of passing from the stage. According to the statement of the Union for International Cancer Control in 2008 based on "a better attitude toward cancer by 2020 and removing misconceptions about the disease", the available cultural opportunities in the country can be considered as areas in need of strengthening. The negative attitudes and beliefs can be reformed by adopting strategies such as increasing the awareness of the community as the first strategy in changing the culture.

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The taboo of cancer: the experiences of cancer disclosure by Iranian patients, their family members and physicians

Cited by 39 publications

References 49 publications

Un-met Supportive Care Needs of Iranian Breast Cancer Patients

Un-met Supportive Care Needs of Iranian Breast Cancer Patients

Communication across cancer boundaries

Cultural Aspects of Palliative Cancer Care in Iran

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