Information needs of patients with cancer: results from a large study in UK cancer centres

As part of a multi-centred study evaluating a communication skills training model for clinicians, we collected information preferences using an adaptation of Cassileth's Information Needs questionnaire from a heterogeneous sample of 2331 patients. Results showed that 87% (2027) wanted all possi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of cancer 2001-01, Vol.84 (1), p.48-51
Main Authors: JENKINS, V, FALLOWFIELD, L, SAUL, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Cancer
Communication
Disclosure
Female
Humans
Illnesses
Male
Medical research
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neoplasms - psychology
Patients
Physician-Patient Relations
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Questionnaires
Regular
Remission (Medicine)
Sex Factors
Skill development
Surveys and Questionnaires
Teaching. Deontology. Ethics. Legislation
Truth Disclosure
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:As part of a multi-centred study evaluating a communication skills training model for clinicians, we collected information preferences using an adaptation of Cassileth's Information Needs questionnaire from a heterogeneous sample of 2331 patients. Results showed that 87% (2027) wanted all possible information, both good and bad news and 98% (2203) preferred to know whether or not their illness was cancer. Cross tabulation of responses revealed no significant differences in information preferences for tumour site or treatment aims but did show an effect of age and sex. The few 58/440 (13.2%) patients who stated that in general they preferred to leave disclosure of details up to the doctor, tended to be older patients more than 70 years of age (chi square = 26.01, df = 2, P< 0.0001), although paradoxically they still wanted to know certain specific details. In comparison to men women preferred to know the specific name of the illness (chi square = 4.9, df = 1, P< 0.02) and what were all the possible treatments (chi square = 8.26, df = 1, P< 0.004). The results from this very large sample provide conclusive evidence that the vast majority of patients with cancer want a great deal of specific information concerning their illness and treatment. Failure to disclose such information on the grounds that significant numbers of patients prefer not to know is untenable.
ISSN:0007-0920
1532-1827
1532-1827
DOI:10.1054/bjoc.2000.1573