Health disclosure decision-making: The role of prognosis and symptom uncertainty in ongoing disclosure to a spouse about a heart-related condition.

摘要

This study utilizes Greene's (2009) health disclosure decision-making model (DD-MM) to explore the role of prognosis and symptom uncertainty in patterns of disclosure to a spouse/partner about a chronic health condition. Toward this end, an uncertainty and disclosure model is hypothesized in which prognosis and symptom uncertainty and relational quality are expected to predict perceived partner support, communication efficacy, and the depth, breadth, and frequency of disclosure to a partner about a health condition. Patients with diagnosed heart-related conditions visiting a private medical office were recruited to fill out surveys. Measured variables included prognosis uncertainty (self-, partner-, and relationship-focused), symptom uncertainty (self-, partner-, and relationship-focused), relational quality, perceived partner support, communication efficacy to partner, and depth, breadth, and frequency of disclosure about one's health condition. The results indicated that (1) the key mechanisms identified in the DD-MM influence the depth, breadth, and frequency of disclosure about a chronic health condition and (2) that uncertainty plays a prominent role in people's patterns of disclosure to their partner about their heart-related condition. The findings and implications of the study are discussed.Keywords. Uncertainty, illness uncertainty, relational uncertainty, disclosure, decision-making, efficacy, heart disease.