Information needs of women with recently diagnosed ovarian cancer - A longitudinal study

• The aim of this study was to investigate the information needs among patients with ovarian cancer and whether these information needs change over time. The information needs were evaluated three times, through structured interviews, and were based on the paired comparison approach developed by Degner and colleagues. A consecutive sample of patients (n=82) with recently diagnosed ovarian cancer was asked to participate.Sixty-four patients (78%) chose to participate. The three different measurements of participants' information needs revealed only small changes in these needs. The three most important information needs, in all measurements, were information about the likelihood of cure, information about the stage and spreading of the disease, and information about different treatment options. Information regarding sexual attractiveness was the lowest ranked item in all measurements. Regarding subgroups (age, education) the only significant difference throughout all measurements was that younger patients rated issues of sexual attractiveness higher than older patients (p=0.005).In this longitudinal study patients with ovarian cancer ranked information about the disease and its treatment (i.e. likelihood of cure, stage of disease, and treatment options) highest, and information about psychosocial aspects and self-care lowest. These findings are in accordance with the results from studies of women diagnosed with other types of cancer, which used the same methodology. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Information needs

Longitudinal study

Ovarian cancer

Paired comparison approach

academic achievement

adult

age

aged

article

cancer diagnosis

cancer growth

cancer patient

cancer staging

cancer therapy

controlled study

female

health care need

human

interview

major clinical study

ovary cancer

patient information

physical attractiveness

self care

sexuality

social psychology

Aged

80 and over

Humans

Longitudinal Studies

Middle Aged

Needs Assessment

Nursing Assessment

Ovarian Neoplasms

Patient Education

Sweden

Medical sciences

Medicin

Adult

Aged

80 and over

Female

Humans

Longitudinal Studies

Middle Aged

Needs Assessment

Nursing Assessment

methods

Ovarian Neoplasms

drug therapy

psychology

Patient Education

Sweden

MEDICINE

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)