Informational Needs of Patients and Perceived Adequacy of Information Available Before and After Treatment of Cancer

• Published in: Journal of psychosocial oncology Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 1 - 16
• Main Authors: Hawkins, Nikki A., Pollack, Loria A., Leadbetter, Steven, Steele, Whitney Randolph, Carroll, Jennifer, Dolan, James G., Ryan, Elizabeth P., Ryan, Julie L., Morrow, Gary R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Taylor & Francis Group 08.02.2008; Haworth Press; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Attitude to Health; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; cancer survivorship; Communication; Family - psychology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Illness and personality; Illness, stress and coping; Information; informational support; Life Change Events; Life Style; Lifestyle; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical diagnosis; Middle Aged; Needs; Needs Assessment; Neoplasms - diagnosis; Neoplasms - psychology; Neoplasms - therapy; New York; Oncology; Patient Care - adverse effects; Patient Care - psychology; Patient education; Patient Education as Topic - methods; Patient Satisfaction; Perception - physiology; Psychology; Psychology and medicine; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Quality of Life; Side effects; Social Support; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcomes; United States; North America; America; New York; Social environment; Human; Survivor; Toxicity; Treatment efficiency; Mental health; Satisfaction; informational support; Malignant tumor; cancer survivorship; Stress; Information need; Patient education; Treatment; Social interaction; Follow up study; Family environment; Familial relation; Diagnosis; Treatment planning; Public health; Cancer
• ISSN: 0734-7332; 1540-7586
• DOI: 10.1300/J077v26n02_01

To examine the various concerns of patients after being diagnosed with cancer as well as the availability of information to address concerns from the time of diagnosis to the completion of treatment, we analyzed data from a longitudinal study of 731 adults recently diagnosed with cancer. Concerns about the effectiveness and side effects of treatment and family stress were most common after diagnosis. Information about the diagnosis and treatment plan was readily available to patients, but information addressing social, lifestyle, and financial concerns was less available. Significantly more information was desired regarding the long-term implications of treatment and disease.