Information Needs of Cancer Patients: A Comparison of Nurses’ and Patients’ Perceptions

Abstract

This study aimed to identify nurses' and patients' perceptions and compare them in terms of the information needs of cancer patients. Another aim is to identify the association between the demographic and situational characteristics of patients'/nurses' and information needs. A total of 305 patients and 130 nurses participated in this descriptive and comparative study. Data was collected with a study-specific questionnaire developed for this study. Descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi-square and RIDIT analyses were used to analyze the data. Results indicated that there was incongruence between patients' and nurses' perceptions regarding information provision (p < 0.05), both congruence regarding how much information was needed (eight out of 16 information items), but also significant incongruence on the remaining items(p < 0.05). The other finding was that patients residing out of Ankara city needed to obtain more information rather than the others. No relationship was found between demographic and situational characteristics and nurses' perceptions regarding information need of patients.

Information needs of patients with lung cancer from diagnosis until first treatment follow-up

“…In addition, examining information needs over time is important and has been recommended in several studies [ 7 – 8 ]. Therefore, to provide information that actually meets the needs of patients, healthcare personnel should consider the individual needs of patients and make assessments accordingly [ 13 ]. While there have been numerous studies on the information needs of patients with gynecologic cancer [ 14 ], breast cancer [ 15 – 16 ], gastrointestinal cancer [ 17 ], and colorectal cancer [ 18 ], there have been only a few studies examining the information needs of patients with lung cancer, with no studies examining the changes and correlates of information needs over time.…”

Factors associated with nurses’ opinions and practices regarding information and consent

“…8,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Some data suggest that nurses have misperceptions about their role in patient education 17 and may underestimate or overvalue patients' needs for information. [18][19][20][21] Comparative surveys have investigated nurses' and patient's perception regarding information giving and informed consent in five European countries, Turkey, and western United States. 1,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Nurses felt they frequently informed their patients, except in Greece, but they significantly overrated the information provided.…”

“…22,[25][26][27][28] Furthermore, many nurses agree to deliver information to relatives without the patient's consent. 29 No associations were found between nurses' characteristics and their perceptions of patients' information needs, 18,21 while inconsistent associations across countries were found between nurses' perceptions of the maintenance of patient autonomy by the means of information and consent and nurses' gender, educational level, work status, and previous training in ethics. [22][23][24] Nursing in Italy has achieved important goals in terms of education, decisional autonomy, and responsibility, and in 2001, a university degree for nurses became the single pathway of entry for the profession.…”

“…18 –21 Comparative surveys have investigated nurses’ and patient’s perception regarding information giving and informed consent in five European countries, Turkey, and western United States. 1,21 –28 Nurses felt they frequently informed their patients, except in Greece, but they significantly overrated the information provided. 1,21 –25,28 However, patients’ consent, also regarding information disclosure to others, was reported as requested less frequently.…”

Risk communication with Arab patients with cancer: a qualitative study of nurses and pharmacists

“…This ongoing informal reinforcement by nurses is invaluable for continuity of care, especially as patients often forget information over time. 35 Both groups agreed that the physician's role in educating patients is incomplete and attributed this to several factors: low patient retention of information from that first encounter with the physician; physician emphasis on explanation of diagnosis and gaining consent to care; physician discretion that the patient does not need or wish to have the information; and finally lack of physician time resulting in (communicated and uncommunicated) delegation to other care providers.…”