Effects of information supply on satisfaction with information and qualityof life in cancer patients receiving curative radiation therapy

In order to test the efficacy of various information inputs, 210 consecutiv e cancer patients were randomized to one of three information conditions be fore the start of curative radiation treatment: (1) standard information pl us group and repeated individual information (n = 70), (2) standard informa tion plus brochure (n = 70), and (3) standard information only (n = 70). Pa tients completed questions regarding satisfaction with information, anxiety , depression, subjective distress and quality of life at inclusion, and 1 h before the start of the radiation therapy treatment (approximately 4 weeks later). Patients receiving standard information plus group and repeated in dividual information were significantly more satisfied with the information than were patients in the remaining two groups. There were no differences with respect to any of the other outcome measures. This study has shown tha t the nurses group and individual information was of significant importance in preparing the patients for the procedure of receiving radiation therapy . (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.