INFORMATION NEEDS OF CANCER-PATIENTS IN WEST SCOTLAND - CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY OF PATIENTS VIEWS

Objective-To assess the needs of patients with cancer for information about their condition. Design-Cross sectional survey of patients' view s by means of semistructured interview with questionnaire. Setting-A r egional cancer centre and two university hospitals in west Scotland. S ubjects-250 (93%) of 269 cancer patients invited to participate in stu dy who were selected by age, sex, socioeconomic status, and tumour sit e to be representative of cancer patients in west Scotland. Main outco me measures-Patients' need to know whether they had cancer, the medica l name of their illness, progress through treatment, how treatment wor ks, side effects, chances of cure, and treatment options. Results-79% (95% confidence interval 73% to 84%) of patients wanted as much inform ation as possible, and 96% (93% to 98%) had a need or an absolute need to know if they had cancer. Most patients also wanted to know the cha nce of cure (91% (87% to 94%)) and about side effects of treatment (94 % (90% to 97%)). When the replies were cross tabulated with patients' age, sex, deprivation score, and type of treatment there was a linear trend for patients from more affluent areas to want more information a nd those from deprived areas to want less. There was a strong preferen ce for diagnosis of cancer to be given by a hospital doctor (60% (53% to 66%). Conclusion-Almost all patients wanted to know their diagnosis , and most wanted to know about prognosis, treatment options, and side effects.