TABLE IV.
Oncologist decisions about patient factors
| Factor | Responses (n) | Decision | Value [n (%)] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communicate information about cps | 75 | No | 54 (72) |
| Yes (to patients) | 13 (17) | ||
| Yes (to family only) | 8 (11) | ||
| Reason for not communicating cps | 54 | Uncertainty | 31 (57) |
| Information not requested | 20 (37) | ||
| Apprehensive about communicating cps | 1 (2) | ||
| Other | 2 (3) | ||
| Main factor in cps | 75 | Performance status | 29 (39) |
| Metastatic lesion | 39 (52) | ||
| Dyspnea | 2 (2) | ||
| Other | 5 (7) | ||
| Final treatment | 75 | Best supportive care | 45 (60) |
| Chemotherapy | 26 (35) | ||
| Clinical trial | 3 (4) | ||
| Alternative medicine | 1 (1) |
cps = clinical prediction of survival.