A survey of Japanese physicians' attitudes and practice in caring for terminally ill cancer patients.

To clarify the psychiatric liaison issues in cancer care, questionnaires were distributed to physicians at 31 teaching hospitals in Japan, including cancer centers and psychiatrists at 197 teaching hospitals. Data from 329 physicians and 156 psychiatrists showed that the majority of the physicians felt troubled by the psychiatric problems of terminally ill patients. However, actual psychiatric referrals were infrequent. An important factor that interferes with appropriate psychiatric referrals for cancer patients is that most physicians do not usually inform patients of a cancer diagnosis. This, it seems that close communication between physicians and psychiatrists is essential in caring for terminally ill cancer patients in the context of Japanese culture, when the psychiatric consultations are offered.