The response of gastric cancer patients who have received surgical resection and follow-up OPD treatment to the informed consent was analyzed. The subjects analyzed were the responses to questionnaires given to 80 patients who were receiving follow-up OPD treatment following gastric resections for gastric cancer. The questionnaire consisted of inquiry on the disease, abount the doctors attitude, about the operation, about the postoperative chemoimmunotherapy and about Expertise. (5 titles, 22 items). The preoperative patient information rate of gastric cancer at Korea University Hospital was 62.3%. 55% had knowledge of the cancer prior to surgery while 45% acquired knowledge following surgery. The source of informatian pertaining to the patient's disease was the attending doctor in 62.3%, and 32.1% of the patients first acquired knowledge through family members. Changes following knowledge of cancer included active participation in treatment in 54% of the patients, planning for the future of the family in 31%, and acquirement of a new religion in 10%, showing an overall positive change in 85% of the informed patients. Degree of satisfaction following the operation after the doctors explanation was very satisfactory in 69.4% compared to the 38.9% in the absence of explanatian(p=0.027). Patient questions pertaining to postoperative treatment included inquiries on future treatment plans in 30%, survival period in 10%, and possibility of recurrence in 10%, 50% of the respondents did not comment. The confidence that the patients had in their doctors was compared on the basis of whether there was prior explanation by the attending doctor. 75.8% of the patients who received a doctors explanation were very confident in their doctor, whereas only 27.8% of those who did not receive nay explanation had such confidence(p=0.037). Patient confidence in chemoimmunotherapy also varied, as 28(48.3%) of the 58 patients receiving therapy had prior explanation gieven while 30(51.7%) received were without any explanation. 60.7% of patients who received explanation about the therapy were very confident in the chemoimmunotherapy, while only 43.3% of the non-explained group had such confidence(p=0.044). The result showed that adequate explanation about disease and patient's course by doctor influenced the patient's participation to treatment and sense of well-being. In conclusion, doctors active explanation to patient of gastric cancer is needed and we should develop an adequate method of giving and receiving informed consent.
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