Family disclosure of a cancer diagnosis to patients

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dc.contributor.authorHu, Chenglei
dc.contributor.authorZhao, Hongyu
dc.contributor.authorYan, Yanhong
dc.contributor.authorFang, Fang
dc.contributor.authorChen, Chen
dc.contributor.authorYu, Ping
dc.contributor.authorWei, Jinrong
dc.contributor.authorWaidley, Ericka
dc.contributor.authorHegarty, Josephine
dc.contributor.authorZhu, Pingting
dc.contributor.funderYangzhou University
dc.contributor.funderChinese Medical Association
dc.contributor.funderNational Centre for Medical Development
dc.date.accessioned2026-05-29T15:50:04Z
dc.date.available2026-05-29T15:50:04Z
dc.date.issued2026-04-30
dc.description.abstractImportance In Chinese culture, families often take primary control over disclosing a cancer diagnosis, balancing a desire to protect patients’ emotional well-being with respect for their right to know. This dynamic can influence patients’ psychological health and overall treatment experience. Objective To examine decision-making dynamics, communication strategies, and power structures involved in how Chinese families balance the delivery of information with patients’ psychological protection when disclosing a cancer diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants This qualitative study used semistructured interviews with family members of adult patients with cancer in China. Purposive sampling ensured diversity in sex, age, and relationship to patients. Data collection and analysis were conducted simultaneously from June 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025, using thematic analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures Key themes related to how families managed cancer diagnosis disclosure. Interviews elicited family members’ expectations, decision-making processes, and strategies for balancing protection and patient autonomy. Results A total of 41 family members were interviewed (median [range] age, 38 [21-56] years; 24 females [58.5%]). Four themes were identified: (1) family negotiation and decision-making on diagnosis disclosure, (2) conflict and collaboration between families and health care professionals, (3) implementation of family-led initial disclosure strategies, and (4) dynamic adjustment of disclosure strategies with treatment progression. These themes illustrated how families continually balanced protection and autonomy in evolving clinical circumstances. Conclusions and Relevance In this qualitative study, cancer diagnosis disclosure within Chinese families unfolded as a culturally embedded and fluid process, requiring ongoing negotiation and adjustment among family members. Given the continued prominence of families in medical decision-making in China, future interventions should aim to bridge the gap between family involvement in care and patient autonomy. While offering necessary family support, these strategies should also aim to steer the disclosure model toward one that elevates and protects the patient’s voice, thereby moving closer to internationally accepted ethical standards.en
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was financially supported by the Qinglan Project of Yangzhou University, China, and the Medical Education Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and the National Centre for Medical Development Medical Education Research Project (2023B315).
dc.description.versionPublished Version
dc.format.extent12
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.articleide269954
dc.identifier.authororcidHu, Chenglei
dc.identifier.authororcidZhao, Hongyu
dc.identifier.authororcidYan, Yanhong
dc.identifier.authororcidFang, Fang
dc.identifier.authororcidChen, Chen
dc.identifier.authororcidYu, Ping
dc.identifier.authororcidWei, Jinrong
dc.identifier.authororcidWaidley, Ericka
dc.identifier.authororcidHegarty, Josephine§0000-0002-1663-4820
dc.identifier.authororcidZhu, Pingting
dc.identifier.citationHu, C, Zhao, H, Yan, Y, Fang, F, Chen, C, Yu, P, Wei, J, Waidley, E, Hegarty, J & Zhu, P 2026, 'Family disclosure of a cancer diagnosis to patients', JAMA Netw. Open, vol. 9, no. 4, e269954, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.9954
dc.identifier.doi10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.9954
dc.identifier.endpage12
dc.identifier.issn2574-3805
dc.identifier.issued4
dc.identifier.journaltitleJAMA Netw. Open
dc.identifier.otherRIS: urn:68D63379DF9600108CECEC945B5CD9BB
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-1663-4820/work/216188239
dc.identifier.startpage1
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/18938
dc.identifier.volume9
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAmerican Medical Association
dc.relation.urihttps://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105037562539
dc.relation.urihttps://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105037562539?origin=resultslist
dc.rights© 2026, the authors.
dc.rights.accessrightsopen access
dc.rights.licensenameAttribution 4.0 International
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.statusPeer reviewed
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectChina
dc.subjectDecision Making
dc.subjectFamily
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectMale
dc.subjectMiddle aged
dc.subjectNeoplasms
dc.subjectQualitative research
dc.subjectTruth disclosure
dc.subjectYoung adult
dc.subject[NursingMidwifery]
dc.titleFamily disclosure of a cancer diagnosis to patientsen
dc.typeArticle (peer-reviewed)
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