Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37674774›Full record

ArticlePEC innovation2023

The role of family and culture in the disclosure of bad news: A multicentre cross-sectional study in Pakistan.

Sameena Shah, Asma Usman, Samar Zaki, Asra Qureshi, Karishma Lal, Saher Naseeb Uneeb, Naseem Bari, Fauzia Basaria Hasnani, Nasir Shah, Saima Parwaiz Iqbal and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PEC innovation, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Disclosure, social support, and meaning-based coping among Omani mothers living with breast cancer: a phenomenological qualitative study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.

Sameena ShahDepartment of Family Medicine, North Island Hospital Campbell River and District, Island Health, Campbell River, BC, Canada.
Asma UsmanDepartment of Family Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Samar ZakiDepartment of Family Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Asra QureshiDepartment of Family Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Karishma LalAga Khan University Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
Saher Naseeb UneebLiaquat National Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
Naseem BariBolan Medical College, Quetta, Pakistan.
Fauzia Basaria HasnaniDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Nasir ShahDepartment of Family Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
Saima Parwaiz IqbalDivision of Family Medicine, Department of Community Health Sciences, Shifa International, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Obaid UllahPakistan Medical Research Council, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Sumera AbidPakistan Medical Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Aga Khan University · PKPakistan Health Research Council · PKBolan Medical College · PKLiaquat National Hospital · PKShifa International Hospital · PKUniversity of Health Sciences Lahore · PK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: Disclosure of bad news is distressing for patients and family members. Our aim was to assess patients' perceptions and preferences regarding bad news in the health setting. Methods: Cross-sectional, multi-centered study supported by an external grant in 15 Government and Private Hospitals across Pakistan. A sample size of 1673 patients and family members was used. Ethics permission/consent was taken from each participating hospital and participant. Responses were compared across provinces, gender, age, education and income. Results: >80% patients preferred their relatives to know the diagnosis first and they wanted the news to be disclosed to them by doctors. Significant association between education level, income and preference for wanting to know the diagnosis was found. Reasons for wanting to know the diagnosis included treatment, prognosis and prevention options whereas reasons for not wanting to know included fear of emotions and God's will. Conclusion: The majority of Pakistani patients want to be informed and want the family to know first. Preferences for disclosure vary across, age, education and income level. Innovation: First countrywide study on this topic. Identifies need for culturally sensitive guidelines that include the family's role in disclosure of bad news.

Indexed as

Bad newsFamilyPatientsPerceptionsPhysiciansPreferences

Identifiers

PMID37674774
PMCPMC10477806
OpenAlexW4386034867

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.