Purpose: To explore what particular types of information were important to patients diagnosed with cancer.
Methods: Seventy three patients with cancer at an outpatient clinic and hospitalized patients in W Christian Hospital Korea, responded. The structured questionnaire developed by the investigator based on previous studies.
Results: There was a significant negative relationship between age and the score of informational need (r=-.307, p(.05). Level of education, and level of monthly income were related to level of informational need. The top three informational priorities according to the time since diagnosis were ´Self care during treatment´, ´Health food and diet´. ´Likelihood of recurrence´. ´Follow up care´ and ´Side effects´. The top three informational priorities for patients with breast cancer were ´Likelihood of recurrence´, ´Metastasis possibility´, ´Treatment options´, and ´Side effects. For patients with stomach cancer, they were ´Follow up care´, ´Healthy food and diet´. ´Likelihood of recurrene´, and ´Metastasis possibility´, and for patients with colon/rectal cancer, they were ´Side effects´, ´Healthy food and diet´. ´Likelihood of recurrence´, and ´Self care during treatment´.
Conclusion: The assessment of information needs based on demographic factors and disease-related factors is critical in helping patients with cancer to manage their illness.
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