Informational needs and concerns among women with breast cancer after surgery

ABSTRACT

Informational need assessment has become an important part of health care in order to provide information effectively in clinical settings. Literature on information needs suggests that breast cancer [BC] patients needed more information than doctors had provided. The aim of this research was to identify the informational needs and concerns among women with breast cancer after surgery. This descriptive exploratory study used a sample of convenience of 200 women who had undergone modified radical mastectomy or breast conserving surgery in surgical departments of Benha University Hospital, Benha Teaching Hospital and National Cancer Institute [NCI] of Cairo University over a period of 6 months. Tools for data were collected on demographic characteristics and illness-related data, level of informational needs regarding diagnosis, investigative tests, treatment, physical and psychological functioning as measured by the Toronto Informational Needs Questionnaire of Breast Cancer, [Galloway et al., 1997], and their concerns as measured by Concerns Checklist, [Broomfield and Humphris, 1999]. Indicated that informational needs were greatest in the treatment, physical and psychosocial subscales. Besides, the major concerns were about their inability to complete their social role. Marital status, level of education, and level of income were highly related to level of informational needs and concerns. There was also a good positive correlation between their informational needs and concerns after surgery [r=0.733, p=<0.001]. The results had shown many areas of knowledge deficit and concerns which reflect a need for education relevant to self care, treatment and psychological support services after surgery and in return it will provide nurses with some directions as what information to give to women with breast cancer receiving early treatment, which will help them manage their illness. The study recommended replication of this study on larger nonprobability representative sample to achieve more generalizable results. As well, Future research should examine cancer patients' information needs and concerns throughout their cancer journey