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Journal of Cancer Survivorship
Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship 1/2016

01-02-2016

Satisfaction with information and unmet information needs in men and women with cancer

Authors: Hermann Faller, Uwe Koch, Elmar Brähler, Martin Härter, Monika Keller, Holger Schulz, Karl Wegscheider, Joachim Weis, Anna Boehncke, Bianca Hund, Katrin Reuter, Matthias Richard, Susanne Sehner, Carina Szalai, Hans-Ulrich Wittchen, Anja Mehnert

Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

Information needs in cancer patients are high but often not fulfilled. This study aimed to examine the level of perceived information, information satisfaction, and unmet needs in a large sample of cancer patients. Further, we explored associations with emotional distress and quality of life accounting for gender.

Methods

In a multicenter, cross-sectional study in Germany, 4020 cancer patients (mean age 58 years, 51 % women) were evaluated. We obtained self-reports of information level, information satisfaction, and unmet needs, measured depressive symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), symptoms of anxiety with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and health-related quality of life with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30).

Results

Seventy-two to 88 % of participants reported to be well informed regarding various aspects of their disease, except of psychological support (38 %). However, unmet information needs were also prevalent in 36 to 48 %. Gender differences found were generally small. Although men felt less informed about psychological support, they expressed fewer needs for further information regarding this topic. Irrespective of gender, patients who were less satisfied with information received and had more unmet needs reported more anxiety, depression, and lower quality of life. Up to three quarters of those classified as most severely distressed reported unmet needs for information about psychological support.

Conclusions

In this largest study to date, we found high levels of both information received and satisfaction with information, but also considerable amounts of unmet needs, particularly regarding psychological support.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Provision of information about psychosocial support seems important to increase utilization of support offers among distressed cancer survivors.
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Metadata
Title
Satisfaction with information and unmet information needs in men and women with cancer
Authors
Hermann Faller
Uwe Koch
Elmar Brähler
Martin Härter
Monika Keller
Holger Schulz
Karl Wegscheider
Joachim Weis
Anna Boehncke
Bianca Hund
Katrin Reuter
Matthias Richard
Susanne Sehner
Carina Szalai
Hans-Ulrich Wittchen
Anja Mehnert
Publication date
01-02-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Cancer Survivorship / Issue 1/2016
Print ISSN: 1932-2259
Electronic ISSN: 1932-2267
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-015-0451-1

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