Attitudes of Physicians in Jordan Towards Non-Disclosure of Health Information

Abstract

Objectives: This report aims to investigate the attitudes of physicians in Jordan towards non-disclosure of health information among physicians, with a focus on those who are 'always truthful' and those who are not.

Methods: The report is based on the second subset of data from a cross-sectional study-conducted between January and August 2016-of the truth disclosure practices among and attitudes of physicians in Jordan. The sample consisted of 240 physicians selected from four major hospitals by stratified random sampling and invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire regarding truth disclosure attitudes. The attitudes of physicians who were 'always truthful' were compared with those who were not.

Results: A total of 164 physicians (response rate: 68%) completed the questionnaire. Of these, 17 (10%) were 'always truthful', while the remaining 144 (90%) were not. Physicians who were 'always truthful' were more likely to indicate that non-disclosure is 'unethical' (77% versus 39%; P = 0.009). Moreover, physicians who were 'always truthful' were more likely to disagree that non-disclosure is beneficial for the physical and psychological health of patients (82% versus 55%; P = 0.03). Most of the surveyed physicians agreed that all patients have the right to know their diagnosis, most patients prefer to know their diagnosis and the introduction of legislation to enforce disclosure would positively affect medical practice in Jordan.

Conclusion: The differential attitudes of physicians who were 'always truthful' and those who were 'not always truthful' suggests a rationale behind independent non-disclosure; namely, that non-disclosure is ethically justifiable and beneficial for the physical and psychological health of patients.

Keywords: Attitude; Cross-Sectional Studies; Jordan; Middle East; Physicians; Truth Disclosure.

Figure 1

Ratings of 164 physicians from Amman, Jordan, regarding their perception of a patient’s right to know their diagnosis stratified by disclosure policy using a Likert-type scale.

Figure 2

Ratings of 164 physicians from Amman, Jordan, regarding their perception of a patient’s preference to know their diagnosis stratified by disclosure policy using a Likert-type scale.