The Effect of Implementation of Truth-Telling Protocol on Life Expectancy in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer

Hope is an important source of human coping when facing problems. Cancer is a common disease which can cause great physical and mental stress for patients, but if the diagnosis is delivered correctly, it can reduce anxiety and confusion for the patient and improve outcomes for both the patient and healthcare staff.

The present study was performed with aim to determine the impact of implementing a truth-telling protocol on life expectancy of patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

This randomized clinical trial study with a controlled pre-test post-test design was conducted at Mashhad Ghaem Hospital and Pazh Clinic in 2020-2021. Sixty patients with gastrointestinal cancer were divided into two groups: intervention group who received information about their diagnosis using the "truth-telling" protocol, and control group who received standard hospital disclosure of diagnosis. Miller's life expectancy questionnaire was used to collect data before and one month after the intervention.

One month after the intervention, the mean of life expectancy score in the intervention group was 191.56±25.56 and in the control group was 176.93±32.98. The difference between before and after the intervention in the intervention group was -4.41+12.60 and in the control group was -23.02+18.60. There was a significant difference in the mean difference life expectancy score of patients in the control group (p<0.001), but no significant difference was found in intervention group in this regard (p=0.060).

Implications for Practice: 

The "Truth-Telling" protocol did not lower the life expectancy score in patients with gastrointestinal cancer, so it is recommended to inform the patients about their disease.