Cancer patients' awareness of disease and satisfaction with services: the influence of their general education level.

Forty-five cancer patients, 22 with a low and 23 with a high general educational level, receiving chemotherapy in the chemotherapy day clinic of the Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, were interviewed individually by a clinical psychology Master's Program student. The interview covered 45 questions about the level of their awareness of disease and treatment, prognosis, and the sources of information and whether these affected their satisfaction with the services given. The answers of the two groups with different educational levels were compared. There was no significant difference between the two groups in awareness of disease or in satisfaction with the services. However, there was significant difference between the two groups in patient-physician dialogue as to asking more and direct questions and thus in the source of information. Six attending physicians in charge of the clinic were also interviewed about their guesses on the patients' answers, and their reasons for giving different levels of information to their patients. It was suggested that general public education on the communities' concept of cancer was the most important single factor in the formation of demand and therefore revealing correct information during patient-physician communication.