Table 2.

Themes identified from qualitative synthesis of 30 studies published between 1990 and 2018

Research question	Themes
1. Barriers	Emotional problems resist disclosure
	Tension between medical and social explanatory models
	Unspoken assumptions about agency
	Stretched resources vs. optimum care
2. Facilitators	Human connection is healing
	Exploring, explaining and negotiating understanding
	Information provision facilitating involvement