THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF WOMEN NEWLY-DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST-CANCER

Nurses can play a key role in patient education, including providing p atients with useful and appropriate information. Rather than focusing on the process of education or information giving by nurses, this stud y places emphasis on the content of that information by taking the pat ients' perspective and asking the patients themselves what particular types of information are perceived as important at a specific point in time. The aim of the study was to explore what particular types of in formation were important to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer; to enable nurses and other health care professionals to utilize their time as effectively as possible and provide a high-quality service to individuals in their care. Women with breast cancer (a mean of 2.5 wee ks from diagnosis) were interviewed and asked to compare items of info rmation. The items of information were presented in pairs and the wome n stated a perference for one item in that pair. Thirty-six pairs were presented in total. The analysis involved the use of a Thurstone scal ing model, which allowed rank orderings, or profiles of information ne eds, to be developed, reflecting the perceived importance of each item . Information about the likelihood of cure, the spread of the disease and treatment options were perceived as the most important items of in formation at the time of diagnosis. Other information needs, in order of descending priority, included information about the risk to family, side-effects of treatments, impact on family, self-care, effect on so cial life and sexual attractiveness. Profiles of information needs wer e produced to take account of differences in age, level of education a nd social class. The use of the profile as a clinical reference guide to assist nurses and others to provide targeted information to individ uals is discussed.